AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hidden Falls Regional Park

Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint–Minnehaha Regional Park Beach, 4 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 1 hr 19 min

Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint–Minnehaha Regional Park Beach, 4 sights is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Hidden Falls Regional Park near Mendota, MN. The route passes Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint and Minnehaha Regional Park Beach before reaching Minnehaha Regional Park Beach at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 174 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 804 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Crosby Farm Bluff Trail 44.89525, -93.17839
Nearest town Mendota, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint–Minnehaha Regional Park Beach, 4 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 1 hr 19 min

Elevation 698–805 ft

Out & Back · Hidden Falls Regional Park

Trailhead: Crosby Farm Bluff Trail · 44.89525, -93.17839

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

Transit-accessible: Gannon Road & Edgcumbe Road stop 271 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Crosby Farm Bluff Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Lower Hidden Falls Drive, heading W.
  3. 50 ftPass Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hidden Falls Bluff Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
  7. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 250 ftPass Minnehaha Regional Park Beach.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Hidden Falls Demo Loop, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miPass Minnehaha Regional Park Beach.
  14. 100 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  15. 350 ftReach Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 350 ftSharp left, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  19. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  21. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hidden Falls Bluff Trail, heading NE.
  23. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Hidden Falls Drive, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Crosby Farm Bluff Trail, heading SE.
  25. 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/lower-hidden-falls-drive-viewpoint-out-back

Trail surface

76% dirt22% paved1% rock1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Gannon Road & Edgcumbe Road stop 271 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Crosby Farm Bluff Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Mendota, Minnesota