Fort Snelling State Park

Minnesota River & New Hope Trail

1.1 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 26 min

Minnesota River & New Hope Trail is a 1.1-mile out-and-back in Fort Snelling State Park near Mendota, MN. The route reaches Minnesota River at the turnaround, 0.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 132 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 827 ft · steepest grade: 31%1.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.88658, -93.16695
Nearest town Mendota, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota River & New Hope Trail

1.1 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 26 min

Elevation 698–826 ft

Out & Back · Fort Snelling State Park

Trailhead: 44.88658, -93.16695

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  4. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 200 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 400 ftBear left onto New Hope Trail, heading SW.
  10. 100 ftReach Minnesota River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  12. 400 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  13. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  16. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  18. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  19. 150 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

72% paved3% gravel25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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