Birch Lake–Mound, 3 sights
3.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Birch Lake–Mound, 3 sights is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Tamarack Nature Center near Vadnais Heights, MN. The route passes Birch Lake before reaching Mound at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Birch Lake–Mound, 3 sights
3.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Elevation 909–964 ft
Out & Back · Tamarack Nature Center
Trailhead: 45.07869, -93.05746
Weather Sep 20: Overcast, high 64°F / low 54° · precip 2% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miPass Birch Lake.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Deer Pass Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miPass Mound.
- 300 ftReach Birch Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 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 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lake Johanna–Grass Lake, 6 lakes 16.1 mi · ▲ 320 ft
- Gilfillan Lake 2.7 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Frogs 3.8 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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Hikes near Vadnais Heights, Minnesota