Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Big Woods Trail–Maple Trail, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Big Woods Trail–Maple Trail, 3 sights is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Nerstrand, MN. It is mostly level, with 232 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Woods Trail–Maple Trail, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 1,073–1,201 ft
Out & Back · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Trailhead: Prairie Trail · 44.32739, -93.11374
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Maple Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn left onto White Oak Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Beaver Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miReach Big Woods Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto White Oak Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left onto Maple Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Prairie Trail, heading S.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Prairie Trail Trailhead
- Big Woods Trail–Fawn Trail, 5 sights 8.4 mi · ▲ 363 ft
- Ironwood Trail via Fox Trail 3 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Hidden Falls–Big Woods Trail, 4 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 163 ft
- Hidden Falls–Basswood Trail, 8 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 287 ft
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Hikes near Nerstrand, Minnesota