Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Black Dog Trail
4 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 21 min
Black Dog Trail is a 4-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Burnsville, MN. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Black Dog Trail
4 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 21 min
Elevation 701–744 ft
Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 44.78671, -93.27590
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 2 miReach Black Dog Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 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 right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:47 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:07 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:36 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Minnesota River–Black Dog Lake, 3 lakes 6.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Burnsville, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Burnsville, Minnesota