Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Minnesota Valley State Trail
9.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Shakopee, MN. It is mostly level, with 53 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
9.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Elevation 722–801 ft
Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 44.78084, -93.50101
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 332 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear 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.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.7 miArrive 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 4.3 mi in (~105 min). Leave by 5:03 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 332 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Minnesota Valley State Trail 9.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Big Woods Regional Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Big Woods Regional Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 56 ft
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