North Knucklehead & South Knucklehead via Gateway State Trail
6.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 5 min
North Knucklehead & South Knucklehead via Gateway State Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back near North Saint Paul, MN. The route passes South Knucklehead before reaching North Knucklehead at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
North Knucklehead & South Knucklehead via Gateway State Trail
6.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 5 min
Elevation 886–953 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 45.01473, -93.00620
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Mcknight Rd stop 157 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Gateway State Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Bruce Vento Regional Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miPass South Knucklehead.
- 250 ftReach North Knucklehead, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Gateway State Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Mcknight Rd stop 157 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lake Phalen & Bruce Vento Regional Trail 13.5 mi · ▲ 250 ft
- Keller Creek–Gateway State Trail, 3 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 200 ft
- Bruce Vento Regional Trail 9.2 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Bruce Vento Regional Trail 9.9 mi · ▲ 219 ft
- Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Sunset Point & Thunder Bay - Westwinds Park Trail via Bruce Vento Regional Trail 10.2 mi · ▲ 247 ft
- Wakefield via Gateway State Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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