AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park

Gilfillan Lake–Sucker Lake, 3 lakes

14.4 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Gilfillan Lake–Sucker Lake, 3 lakes is a 14.4-mile out-and-back in Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park near Shoreview, MN. The route passes Sucker Lake and Gilfillan Lake before reaching Frogs at the turnaround, 7.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 174 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 968 ft16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.09142, -93.12286
Nearest town Shoreview, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gilfillan Lake–Sucker Lake, 3 lakes

14.4 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Elevation 885–970 ft

Out & Back · Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park

Trailhead: 45.09142, -93.12286

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:14 PM

Transit-accessible: Tanglewood Dr stop 513 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.9 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.7 miPass Sucker Lake.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Sucker Lake Road, heading S.
  12. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left onto Sucker Lake Side Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left onto Sucker Lake Nordic Ski Trail, heading E.
  15. 1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 0.4 miPass Gilfillan Lake.
  17. 1.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.9 miPass Frogs.
  24. 0.3 miReach Gilfillan Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 1.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  30. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 2.8 miSharp right onto Sucker Lake Side Trail, heading S.
  32. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sucker Lake Road, heading SE.
  33. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  37. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  38. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  39. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  40. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  41. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  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/gilfillan-lake-sucker-lake-out-back-4-lakes-23-km

Trail surface

76% paved4% dirt20% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:14 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Tanglewood Dr stop 513 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shoreview, Minnesota