AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota Valley State Trail

9.8 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Shakopee, MN. It is mostly level, with 56 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 810 ft10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.78012, -93.50492
Nearest town Shakopee, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota Valley State Trail

9.8 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Elevation 722–809 ft

Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 44.78012, -93.50492

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

Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 97 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Encore, heading N.
  8. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.7 miTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
  10. 2.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 2.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 0.7 miTurn right onto Encore, heading S.
  14. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  20. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/minnesota-valley-state-trail-out-back-16-km-46fd

Trail surface

94% paved6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.5 mi in (~110 min). Leave by 4:58 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 97 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shakopee, Minnesota