Otter Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail
3.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 13 min
Otter Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Park near Bald Eagle, MN. The route passes Otter Lake before reaching Otter Lake at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Otter Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail
3.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 13 min
Elevation 910–949 ft
Out & Back · Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Park
Trailhead: Paved Trail · 45.10158, -93.03722
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Chickadee Trail Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Birch Lake Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Otter Lake.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Otter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Chickadee Trail Loop, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 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 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:32 PM — 13 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Paved Trail Trailhead
- East Vadnais Lake–West Vadnais Lake, 9 lakes 12.3 mi · ▲ 162 ft
- Birch Lake–Tamarack Lake, 7 lakes 7.8 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Goose Lake–Birch Lake, 7 lakes 7.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Birch Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Bald Eagle Lake via Birch Lake Regional Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Mound–Tamarack Lake Loop, 7 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 57 ft
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