AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota Valley State Trail

9.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 3 hr 12 min

Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Shakopee, MN. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 807 ft10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.78060, -93.50301
Nearest town Shakopee, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota Valley State Trail

9.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 3 hr 12 min

Elevation 722–806 ft

Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 44.78060, -93.50301

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 181 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right onto Encore, heading N.
  6. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.7 miTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
  8. 2.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 2.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right onto Encore, heading S.
  12. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.8 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-valley-state-trail-out-back-15-km-2d1b

Trail surface

95% paved5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~107 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 181 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shakopee, Minnesota