Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 10 lakes
4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 10 lakes is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Theodore Wirth Park near Golden Valley, MN. The route passes Lilac Pond, Chicago Pond, Pond C and 5 more before reaching Ski Jump Pond at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 10 lakes
4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Elevation 834–899 ft
Out & Back · Theodore Wirth Park
Trailhead: 45.00247, -93.36035
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Douglas Dr & Sandburg Rd stop 95 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miPass Lilac Pond.
- 50 ftPass Chicago Pond.
- 0.3 miPass Pond C.
- 50 ftPass Spring Pond.
- 50 ftPass Schaper Pond.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftPass Sweeney Lake.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftPass Back 40.
- 400 ftPass Twin Lake.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Loop, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Ski Jump Pond.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Back 40, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Douglas Dr & Sandburg Rd stop 95 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Wirth Lake–Bassett Creek Lagoons, 12 lakes 6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Schaper Pond–Spring Pond, 9 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Perpich Center West Pond & Perpich Center East Pond via Luce Line Regional Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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