Bush Lake Park

Mount Gilboa–Bush Lake, 5 lakes

3.5 mi · ▲ 113 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Mount Gilboa–Bush Lake, 5 lakes is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Bush Lake Park near Bloomington Ferry, MN. The route passes Bush Lake, Bush Lake Beach and Goose Nest Pond before reaching Mount Gilboa at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 113 ft of elevation gain. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi837 – 978 ft4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.83118, -93.38191
Nearest town Bloomington Ferry, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Gilboa–Bush Lake, 5 lakes

3.5 mi · ▲ 113 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Elevation 836–977 ft

Out & Back · Bush Lake Park

Trailhead: 44.83118, -93.38191

Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:09 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Bush Lake.
  3. 300 ftBear right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miPass Bush Lake Beach.
  7. 0.3 miPass Goose Nest Pond.
  8. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  10. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 250 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  12. 400 ftContinue straight onto North Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Boulder Ridge, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miReach Mount Gilboa, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto North Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.5 miSharp right, heading W.
  19. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 250 ftSharp left, heading W.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  22. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  25. 150 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

56% paved33% grass11% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:09 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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