AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Theodore Wirth Park

Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 12 lakes

6.7 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 12 lakes is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Theodore Wirth Park near Glenwood Junction, MN. The route passes Ski Jump Pond, Back 40, Twin Lake and 6 more. It is mostly level, with 194 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi820 – 955 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.00619, -93.31668
Nearest town Glenwood Junction, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 12 lakes

6.7 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Elevation 821–955 ft

Out & Back · Theodore Wirth Park

Trailhead: 45.00619, -93.31668

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: West Broadway & 27th Ave N stop 305 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  3. 0.9 miBear left, heading SW.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto 45 North Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Wirth Parkway Bike Path, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miBear right onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftPass Ski Jump Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Back 40.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto North Loop, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading S.
  13. 450 ftBear right onto North Loop, heading S.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftPass Twin Lake.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto North Loop, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.2 miPass Schaper Pond.
  19. 50 ftPass Sweeney Lake.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  21. 50 ftPass Spring Pond.
  22. 300 ftPass Pond C.
  23. 50 ftPass Lilac Pond.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miPass Chicago Pond.
  26. 0.8 miReach Back 40, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 1.1 miBear right, heading E.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Loop, heading E.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading E.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Loop, heading E.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading E.
  33. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Loop, heading S.
  34. 250 ftContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading S.
  35. 0.2 miBear left onto Wirth Parkway Bike Path, heading NE.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  38. 0.1 miBear left onto 45 North Trail, heading N.
  39. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  40. 0.9 miSharp right, heading NE.
  41. 150 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/back-40-sweeney-lake-out-back-15-lakes

Trail surface

87% paved7% dirt2% grass1% boardwalk3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:53 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:13 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:42 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: West Broadway & 27th Ave N stop 305 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Glenwood Junction, Minnesota