Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Ironwood Trail via Fox Trail

3 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Ironwood Trail via Fox Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Nerstrand, MN. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,139 – 1,204 ft3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Prairie Trail 44.32739, -93.11374
Nearest town Nerstrand, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ironwood Trail via Fox Trail

3 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Elevation 1,139–1,205 ft

Out & Back · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Trailhead: Prairie Trail · 44.32739, -93.11374

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:06 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miBear right onto Ironwood Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto Fox Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miReach Ironwood Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Ironwood Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.5 miBear left onto Big Woods Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miBear right onto Prairie Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.4 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Prairie Trail Trailhead