AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

McKnight Lake–Big Woods Lake, 5 lakes

4.9 mi · ▲ 167 ft · 1 hr 43 min

McKnight Lake–Big Woods Lake, 5 lakes is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Landscape Arboretum near Hazeltine, MN. The route passes Big Woods Lake and McKnight Lake before reaching Lake Jonathan at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 167 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi906 – 1,037 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ridge Trail 44.86114, -93.61408
Nearest town Hazeltine, MN
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Directions

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McKnight Lake–Big Woods Lake, 5 lakes

4.9 mi · ▲ 167 ft · 1 hr 43 min

Elevation 905–1,037 ft

Out & Back · Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Trailhead: Ridge Trail · 44.86114, -93.61408

Weather Sep 23: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Transit-accessible: Rose Garden (Shuttle) stop 286 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ridge Trail, heading E.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 450 ftTurn left onto Oak Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.3 miBear left onto Ridge Trail, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear right onto Maintenance Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Spring Peeper Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Washing Machine, heading S.
  10. 300 ftBear right, heading S.
  11. 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 0.4 miPass Big Woods Lake.
  15. 150 ftPass McKnight Lake.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  17. 0.7 miPass Lake Jonathan.
  18. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  21. 100 ftReach McKnight Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
  26. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  27. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  29. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Spring Peeper Trail, heading NE.
  31. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Maintenance Trail, heading E.
  32. 0.1 miBear left onto Ridge Trail, heading N.
  33. 50 ftBear right onto Oak Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  35. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 450 ftTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading N.
  37. 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/mcknight-lake-big-woods-lake-out-back-9-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

61% gravel22% dirt10% grass6% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~61 min). Leave by 5:51 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Rose Garden (Shuttle) stop 286 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Ridge Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Hazeltine, Minnesota