Rogers Lake–Thomas Lake, 3 lakes
16.1 mi · ▲ 469 ft · 5 hr 36 min
Rogers Lake–Thomas Lake, 3 lakes is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Central Park near Mendota Heights, MN. The route passes Rogers Lake, East Thomas Lake and Thomas Lake. It climbs 469 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rogers Lake–Thomas Lake, 3 lakes
16.1 mi · ▲ 469 ft · 5 hr 36 min
Elevation 832–964 ft
Out & Back · Central Park
Trailhead: 44.86711, -93.14359
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 337 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Rogers Lake.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading W.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 1.9 miPass East Thomas Lake.
- 300 ftPass Thomas Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Rogers Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 2.7 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miArrive 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 0.8 mi in (~18 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Lexington Av S stop 337 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Rogers Lake via River to River Greenway 4.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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