Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park
George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 6 lakes
9.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 10 min
George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 6 lakes is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park near Circle Pines, MN. The route passes Kerrey Lake, Rice Lake, Marshan Lake and George Watch Lake. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
George Watch Lake–Rice Lake, 6 lakes
9.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 10 min
Elevation 881–914 ft
Out & Back · Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park
Trailhead: 45.12248, -93.12205
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Kerrey Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 350 ftPass Rice Lake.
- 250 ftBear right onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 001, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 002, heading N.
- 0.6 miPass Marshan Lake.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass George Watch Lake.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftReach George Watch Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Rice Lake Singletrack - 001, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Rice Creek North Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 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 0.8 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:37 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Kerrey Lake & Rice Creek via Rice Creek Trail, Twin City Army Ammunition Plant 15.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Turtle Lake–Round Lake, 5 lakes 11.9 mi · ▲ 161 ft
- Rice Lake–Kerrey Lake, 6 sights 6.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Charley Lake & Kerrey Lake 4.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Circle Pines, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Circle Pines, Minnesota