Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Big Woods Trail–Fawn Trail, 5 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 363 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Big Woods Trail–Fawn Trail, 5 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Nerstrand, MN. It climbs 363 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,073 – 1,201 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Prairie Trail 44.32739, -93.11374
Nearest town Nerstrand, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Woods Trail–Fawn Trail, 5 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 363 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Elevation 1,073–1,201 ft

Out & Back · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Trailhead: Prairie Trail · 44.32739, -93.11374

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miBear right onto Maple Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  7. 300 ftTurn left onto White Oak Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left onto Beaver Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.6 miTurn left onto Fawn Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.4 miBear left onto Hope Trail, heading N.
  11. 1.4 miReach Big Woods Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 1.4 miBear right onto Fawn Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right onto Beaver Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.6 miTurn right onto White Oak Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 250 ftBear left onto Maple Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miBear right onto Prairie Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Prairie Trail Trailhead