AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Central Park

Big Rivers Regional Trail

14.3 mi · ▲ 462 ft · 5 hr

Big Rivers Regional Trail is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Central Park near Mendota, MN. It climbs 462 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi817 – 974 ft15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Big Rivers Regional Trail 44.86679, -93.17343
Nearest town Mendota, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Rivers Regional Trail

14.3 mi · ▲ 462 ft · 5 hr

Elevation 817–973 ft

Out & Back · Central Park

Trailhead: Big Rivers Regional Trail · 44.86679, -93.17343

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:06 PM

Transit-accessible: Brown Institute stop 387 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading E.
  4. 1.8 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  12. 1.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  14. 1.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  17. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  18. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 1.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
  21. 1.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  27. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  28. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  29. 1.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/big-rivers-regional-trail-out-back-23-km-b223

Trail surface

97% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 5:34 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Brown Institute stop 387 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Big Rivers Regional Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Mendota, Minnesota