AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Clifton E. French Regional Park

Northwood Lake–French Park Beach, 3 beaches

4.8 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Northwood Lake–French Park Beach, 3 beaches is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Clifton E. French Regional Park near New Hope, MN. The route passes Northwood Lake before reaching French Park Beach at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 161 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi889 – 981 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.02759, -93.39231
Nearest town New Hope, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwood Lake–French Park Beach, 3 beaches

4.8 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Elevation 888–982 ft

Out & Back · Clifton E. French Regional Park

Trailhead: 45.02759, -93.39231

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Transit-accessible: Ensign Av stop 148 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Northwood Lake.
  3. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 200 ftTurn left onto Bassett Creek Regional Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  8. 1.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.4 miPass French Park Beach.
  11. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  12. 300 ftReach Northwood Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Bassett Creek Regional Trail, heading E.
  15. 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  16. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  17. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 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/northwood-lake-french-park-beach-out-back-3-beaches-8-km

Trail surface

97% paved2% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Ensign Av stop 148 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near New Hope, Minnesota