Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area
Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 5 lakes
15.1 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 5 hr 5 min
Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 5 lakes is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area near Chaska, MN. The route passes Minnesota River and Gifford Lake before reaching Johnson Slough at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 84 ft of elevation gain. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Getting there
Directions
Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 5 lakes
15.1 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 5 hr 5 min
Out & Back · Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 44.78175, -93.59098
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:18 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Minnesota River.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Stunks Road, heading SE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miPass Gifford Lake.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 4.9 miSharp left onto Flood's Road, heading N.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Johnson Slough Trail, heading W.
- 500 ftPass Johnson Slough.
- 200 ftReach Minnesota River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Flood's Road, heading E.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading NW.
- 3.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Stunks Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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