AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fort Snelling State Park

Minnesota River–Coldwater Spring, 4 lakes

16.1 mi · ▲ 699 ft · 5 hr 43 min

Minnesota River–Coldwater Spring, 4 lakes is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Fort Snelling State Park near Mendota, MN. The route passes Coldwater Spring, Minnesota River and Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint before reaching Blackhawk Lake at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 699 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 932 ft17.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.90114, -93.19780
Nearest town Mendota, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota River–Coldwater Spring, 4 lakes

16.1 mi · ▲ 699 ft · 5 hr 43 min

Elevation 698–932 ft

Out & Back · Fort Snelling State Park

Trailhead: 44.90114, -93.19780

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

Transit-accessible: Va Medical Ctr Stn stop 375 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miPass Coldwater Spring.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Minnehaha Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.6 miPass Minnesota River.
  13. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.8 miTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading SE.
  19. 1.1 miPass Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint.
  20. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 2.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 500 ftSharp right, heading W.
  27. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  29. 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  30. 0.2 miPass Blackhawk Lake.
  31. 0.2 miReach Minnesota River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 0.6 miSharp left, heading E.
  36. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  38. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  39. 1.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  40. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  42. 1.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  44. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  45. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  46. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  47. 0.2 miTurn left onto Minnehaha Trail, heading NW.
  48. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  49. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  50. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  51. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  52. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  53. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  54. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  55. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  56. 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/minnesota-river-coldwater-spring-out-back-5-lakes-26-km-d44c

Trail surface

90% paved6% dirt2% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Va Medical Ctr Stn stop 375 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mendota, Minnesota