AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Goose Lake–Birch Lake, 3 lakes

8.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Goose Lake–Birch Lake, 3 lakes is an 8.2-mile out-and-back near Lake Shore Park, MN. The route passes Goose Lake and Birch Lake before reaching Frogs at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi906 – 968 ft9.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.07365, -93.01794
Nearest town Lake Shore Park, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Goose Lake–Birch Lake, 3 lakes

8.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Elevation 905–967 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 45.07365, -93.01794

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Hwy 61 stop 195 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Goose Lake.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mark Sather Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 1 miPass Birch Lake.
  11. 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 1 miPass Frogs.
  18. 0.2 miReach Goose Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  23. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 1.9 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  28. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  29. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 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/goose-lake-birch-lake-out-back-13-km-45c2

Trail surface

92% paved8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:29 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hwy 61 stop 195 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lake Shore Park, Minnesota