Carlson Lake

4.8 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Carlson Lake is a 4.8-mile out-and-back near Cedar Grove, MN. The route reaches Carlson Lake at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 166 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi863 – 955 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.80440, -93.20345
Nearest town Cedar Grove, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Carlson Lake

4.8 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Elevation 863–953 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.80440, -93.20345

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

Transit-accessible: Diffley Rd stop 342 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  3. 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  5. 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  7. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftReach Carlson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  14. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  18. 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 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

91% paved9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Diffley Rd stop 342 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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