AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota Valley State Trail

13.5 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Shakopee, MN. It is mostly level, with 111 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 846 ft14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.78213, -93.50367
Nearest town Shakopee, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnesota Valley State Trail

13.5 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Elevation 722–846 ft

Out & Back · Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 44.78213, -93.50367

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

Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 170 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 200 ftTurn left onto Tahpah to Scenic Heights Drainage Way Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  12. 1.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right onto Encore, heading N.
  16. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  17. 0.7 miTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
  18. 2.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  19. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  20. 2.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.7 miTurn right onto Encore, heading S.
  22. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  26. 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  30. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  31. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.4 miTurn right onto Tahpah to Scenic Heights Drainage Way Trail, heading N.
  35. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  36. 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-22-km-3693

Trail surface

94% paved6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Vierling Dr E stop 170 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shakopee, Minnesota