AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rahn Park

Carlson Lake & Highline Trail

11 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 3 hr 48 min

Carlson Lake & Highline Trail is an 11-mile out-and-back in Rahn Park near Wescott, MN. The route reaches Carlson Lake. It climbs 253 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi863 – 988 ft12.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.80370, -93.11826
Nearest town Wescott, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Carlson Lake & Highline Trail

11 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 3 hr 48 min

Elevation 863–988 ft

Out & Back · Rahn Park

Trailhead: 44.80370, -93.11826

Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

Transit-accessible: HorizOn Rd stop 85 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  8. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 0.8 miPass Carlson Lake.
  10. 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
  11. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  13. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right onto Highline Trail, heading SW.
  20. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  22. 1.1 miReach Carlson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  24. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 500 ftBear left, heading NE.
  26. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  30. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.6 miBear left, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  33. 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  35. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  36. 1.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  37. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  40. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  42. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  43. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/carlson-lake-mccarthy-lake-out-back-4-lakes-19-km-2f87

Trail surface

92% paved8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 5:05 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: HorizOn Rd stop 85 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Wescott, Minnesota