Birch Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Birch Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Tamarack Nature Center near Bald Eagle, MN. The route passes Tamarack Lake, Fish Lake and Birch Lake. It is mostly level, with 53 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–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Elevation 909–964 ft
Out & Back · Tamarack Nature Center
Trailhead: 45.10149, -93.03619
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Paved Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Paved Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Tamarack Lake.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Acorn Loop, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Dragonfly Loop, heading S.
- 450 ftPass Fish Lake.
- 150 ftSharp left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Deer Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Birch Lake.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.5 miReach Birch Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Dragonfly Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Acorn Loop, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Paved Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Paved Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn 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 0.5 mi in (~12 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM — 2 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- East Vadnais Lake–West Vadnais Lake, 9 lakes 12.3 mi · ▲ 162 ft
- Birch Lake–Tamarack Lake, 7 lakes 7.8 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Goose Lake–Birch Lake, 7 lakes 7.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Otter Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Bald Eagle Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Tamarack Lake–Fish Lake, 6 sights 1.9 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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