Fort Snelling State Park
Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint–Big Rivers Regional Trail, 3 sights
10.8 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 3 hr 41 min
Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint–Big Rivers Regional Trail, 3 sights is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in Fort Snelling State Park near Mendota Heights, MN. The route reaches Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint. It is mostly level, with 164 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint–Big Rivers Regional Trail, 3 sights
10.8 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 3 hr 41 min
Elevation 700–903 ft
Out & Back · Fort Snelling State Park
Trailhead: 44.86594, -93.14700
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 43 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.2 miPass Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.9 miTurn left onto Lilydale Regional Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miReach Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading SW.
- 1.9 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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 3.3 mi in (~81 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 43 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.8 mi · ▲ 460 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.7 mi · ▲ 487 ft
- East Thomas Lake & Schwanze Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.9 mi · ▲ 552 ft
- Jensen Lake–Thomas Lake, 8 lakes 16 mi · ▲ 601 ft
- River to River Greenway 5.1 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- River to River Greenway 5 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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