East Thomas Lake & Schwanze Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail
15.9 mi · ▲ 552 ft · 5 hr 35 min
East Thomas Lake & Schwanze Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Central Park near Mendota Heights, MN. The route passes East Thomas Lake before reaching Schwanze Lake at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 552 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
East Thomas Lake & Schwanze Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail
15.9 mi · ▲ 552 ft · 5 hr 35 min
Elevation 832–972 ft
Out & Back · Central Park
Trailhead: 44.86594, -93.14700
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 43 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading S.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.9 miPass East Thomas Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Schwanze Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftReach East Thomas Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 2.7 miTurn 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 3.5 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 5:21 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 43 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.8 mi · ▲ 460 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.7 mi · ▲ 487 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint–Big Rivers Regional Trail, 3 sights 10.8 mi · ▲ 164 ft
- Jensen Lake–Thomas Lake, 8 lakes 16 mi · ▲ 601 ft
- River to River Greenway 5.1 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- River to River Greenway 5 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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