Phalen Park

Lake Phalen–Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point, 3 sights

10.4 mi · ▲ 216 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Lake Phalen–Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point, 3 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Phalen Park near Gladstone, MN. The route passes Lake Phalen before reaching Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 216 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi860 – 965 ft11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.97742, -93.03845
Nearest town Gladstone, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Phalen–Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point, 3 sights

10.4 mi · ▲ 216 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Elevation 858–966 ft

Out & Back · Phalen Park

Trailhead: 44.97742, -93.03845

Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

Transit-accessible: Barclay Av stop 20 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miPass Lake Phalen.
  6. 150 ftContinue straight onto Lake Phalen Bike Path, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading N.
  8. 200 ftBear left, heading N.
  9. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 3.7 miSharp left, heading N.
  11. 0.7 miTurn left onto Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Trail, heading NW.
  12. 400 ftPass Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point.
  13. 450 ftReach Lake Phalen, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 0.7 miSharp right onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading E.
  16. 3.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto East Shore Drive, heading S.
  18. 200 ftBear right onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading S.
  19. 200 ftBear left onto Lake Phalen Bike Path, heading S.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  23. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  24. 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 surface

98% paved2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~85 min). Leave by 5:23 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Barclay Av stop 20 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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