AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Tamarack Nature Center

Otter Lake–Birch Lake, 7 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 16 min

Otter Lake–Birch Lake, 7 lakes is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Tamarack Nature Center near Gem Lake, MN. The route passes Birch Lake, Fish Lake and Tamarack Lake before reaching Otter Lake at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi909 – 948 ft8.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.07820, -93.03859
Nearest town Gem Lake, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Otter Lake–Birch Lake, 7 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 16 min

Elevation 909–949 ft

Out & Back · Tamarack Nature Center

Trailhead: 45.07820, -93.03859

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Birch Lake Blvd S stop 399 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 150 ftPass Birch Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  8. 350 ftTurn left onto Deer Pass Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miPass Fish Lake.
  10. 350 ftContinue straight onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading E.
  11. 400 ftPass Tamarack Lake.
  12. 350 ftSharp right onto Dragonfly Loop, heading N.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Acorn Loop, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading E.
  15. 300 ftContinue straight onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading NE.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right onto Paved Trail, heading N.
  17. 150 ftTurn left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading N.
  18. 450 ftTurn left onto Chickadee Trail Loop, heading NE.
  19. 500 ftContinue straight onto Birch Lake Regional Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  24. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  26. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
  30. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  31. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  32. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  33. 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
  34. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  36. 50 ftReach Otter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  37. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  39. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  40. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  41. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  42. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  43. 250 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  44. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  46. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  47. 350 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  48. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  49. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  50. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  51. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  52. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  53. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Chickadee Trail Loop, heading SW.
  54. 500 ftTurn right onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  55. 450 ftTurn right onto Paved Trail, heading S.
  56. 150 ftTurn left onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading SW.
  57. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading SW.
  58. 250 ftTurn left onto Acorn Loop, heading SW.
  59. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Dragonfly Loop, heading E.
  60. 0.1 miSharp left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading E.
  61. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Deer Pass Trail, heading S.
  62. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  63. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  64. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  65. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  66. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  67. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  68. 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/otter-lake-birch-lake-out-back-8-lakes-13-km

Trail surface

48% paved52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Birch Lake Blvd S stop 399 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Gem Lake, Minnesota