Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Hidden Falls–Big Woods Trail, 4 sights
4.2 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 1 hr 29 min
Hidden Falls–Big Woods Trail, 4 sights is a 4.2-mile out-and-back in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Nerstrand, MN. The route reaches Hidden Falls at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 163 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hidden Falls–Big Woods Trail, 4 sights
4.2 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 1 hr 29 min
Elevation 1,058–1,201 ft
Out & Back · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Trailhead: Prairie Trail · 44.32739, -93.11374
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Maple Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto White Oak Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 300 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Hidden Falls Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miReach Hidden Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp left onto White Oak Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Maple Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Prairie Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miArrive 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 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Prairie Trail Trailhead
- Big Woods Trail–Fawn Trail, 5 sights 8.4 mi · ▲ 363 ft
- Big Woods Trail–Maple Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 232 ft
- Ironwood Trail via Fox Trail 3 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Hidden Falls–Basswood Trail, 8 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 287 ft
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