Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area
Horseshoe Lake & Minnesota Valley State Trail
3.7 mi · ▲ 148 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Horseshoe Lake & Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area near Belle Plaine, MN. The route reaches Horseshoe Lake at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 148 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Horseshoe Lake & Minnesota Valley State Trail
3.7 mi · ▲ 148 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Elevation 714–821 ft
Out & Back · Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 44.62714, -93.76368
Weather Sep 26: sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading NE.
- 1.5 miReach Horseshoe Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 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 right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:47 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:07 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:36 PM.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Belle Plaine, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Belle Plaine, Minnesota