AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park

George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 5 lakes

15.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 5 hr 10 min

George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 5 lakes is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park near Lexington, MN. The route passes Rice Lake and Marshan Lake before reaching George Watch Lake at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi879 – 915 ft17.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.13182, -93.15116
Nearest town Lexington, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 5 lakes

15.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 5 hr 10 min

Elevation 881–914 ft

Out & Back · Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park

Trailhead: 45.13182, -93.15116

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:14 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 450 ftSharp left, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
  6. 2.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 1.2 miTurn right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  9. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  13. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  14. 0.5 miPass Rice Lake.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miBear right onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 001, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading N.
  20. 50 ftBear left onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 002, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miPass Marshan Lake.
  22. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  24. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.6 miBear right, heading E.
  26. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  27. 0.4 miReach George Watch Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  29. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  30. 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
  31. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
  32. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  33. 0.5 miBear right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 001, heading W.
  36. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  37. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  38. 100 ftTurn left onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading S.
  39. 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
  40. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  41. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  42. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  43. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  44. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  45. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  46. 1.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  47. 2.1 miSharp right, heading W.
  48. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  49. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  50. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  51. 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/george-watch-lake-rice-lake-out-back-5-lakes-20-km

Trail surface

74% paved4% dirt3% boardwalk19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:14 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~100 min). Leave by 5:14 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lexington, Minnesota