Lower Prior Lake–Jeffers Wildlife Pond, 3 lakes

4.5 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 1 hr 34 min

Lower Prior Lake–Jeffers Wildlife Pond, 3 lakes is a 4.5-mile out-and-back near Grainwood, MN. The route passes Jeffers Wildlife Pond and Sand Point Beach before reaching Lower Prior Lake at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 139 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi843 – 971 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.74442, -93.44307
Nearest town Grainwood, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Prior Lake–Jeffers Wildlife Pond, 3 lakes

4.5 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 1 hr 34 min

Elevation 844–972 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.74442, -93.44307

Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:09 PM

Transit-accessible: P&R Arrive stop 777 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Jeffers Wildlife Pond.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 0.7 miPass Sand Point Beach.
  8. 400 ftReach Lower Prior Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 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

69% paved31% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:09 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:14 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: P&R Arrive stop 777 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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