Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Minnesota Valley State Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 39 min
Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Shakopee, MN. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Minnesota Valley State Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 39 min
Elevation 722–768 ft
Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 44.78574, -93.48459
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: Pine Tree Ln stop 377 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Encore, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
- 2.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Encore, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 5:20 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Pine Tree Ln stop 377 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Twin Ponds 14.7 mi · ▲ 437 ft
- Tahpah to Scenic Heights Drainage Way Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 136 ft
- Big Woods Regional Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 163 ft
- Quarry Lake Trail 5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Deans Lake 3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Thunder Canyon via Minnesota Valley State Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 28 ft
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Hikes near Shakopee, Minnesota