AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Gleason Lake–Parkers Lake, 4 lakes

15 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 5 hr 3 min

Gleason Lake–Parkers Lake, 4 lakes is a 15-mile out-and-back near Wayzata, MN. The route passes Parkers Lake and Gleason Lake before reaching Donahue Pond at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 86 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi938 – 1,007 ft17.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: South West Trail Loop 44.99754, -93.49954
Nearest town Wayzata, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gleason Lake–Parkers Lake, 4 lakes

15 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 5 hr 3 min

Elevation 939–1,007 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: South West Trail Loop · 44.99754, -93.49954

Weather Sep 26: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:06 PM

Transit-accessible: Co Rd 6 / 19 Av N stop 178 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on South West Trail Loop, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Southwest Trail Loop, heading N.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto South West Trail Loop, heading N.
  4. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miPass Parkers Lake.
  10. 400 ftSharp right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  12. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Luce Line State Trail, heading W.
  17. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 350 ftPass Gleason Lake.
  20. 1.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 1.5 miBear left, heading W.
  22. 0.8 miPass Donahue Pond.
  23. 0.4 miReach Gleason Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 2.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 1.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  27. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  29. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  30. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 250 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  33. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  34. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  36. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  37. 0.3 miTurn left onto South West Trail Loop, heading N.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 0.4 miBear left onto Southwest Trail Loop, heading NE.
  40. 0.8 miTurn right onto South West Trail Loop, heading N.
  41. 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/gleason-lake-parkers-lake-out-back-6-lakes-18-km

Trail surface

41% dirt37% paved20% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~143 min). Leave by 4:23 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Co Rd 6 / 19 Av N stop 178 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from South West Trail Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Wayzata, Minnesota