AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area

Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 7 sights

12.1 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 7 sights is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area near Merriam, MN. The route passes Gifford Lake, Minnesota River and Louisville Swamp Boulder. It is mostly level, with 83 ft of elevation gain. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.73938, -93.59761
Nearest town Merriam, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota River–Gifford Lake, 7 sights

12.1 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Out & Back · Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 44.73938, -93.59761

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:18 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
  4. 1.1 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 0.9 miPass Gifford Lake.
  6. 50 ftPass Minnesota River.
  7. 6 miTurn right onto Flood's Road, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Middle Road, heading E.
  9. 0.5 miPass Louisville Swamp Boulder.
  10. 450 ftTurn left onto Mazomani Trail, heading N.
  11. 2.2 miArrive 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-gifford-lake-out-back-7-sights-19-km

Trail surface

57% dirt43% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Merriam, Minnesota