Otter Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 36 min
Otter Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Tamarack Nature Center near North Oaks, MN. The route passes Fish Lake and Tamarack Lake before reaching Otter Lake at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Otter Lake–Tamarack Lake, 6 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 36 min
Elevation 909–949 ft
Out & Back · Tamarack Nature Center
Trailhead: 45.08870, -93.04783
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Deer Pass Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Fish Lake.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Tamarack Lake.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Dragonfly Loop, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Acorn Loop, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Paved Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Chickadee Trail Loop, heading NE.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Birch Lake Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 300 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 400 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miReach Otter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 100 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.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Paved Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Bluestem Trail Paved Loop, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Turtle Pass Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Acorn Loop, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Dragonfly Loop, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Grass Walking & Hiking Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Deer Pass Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 0.7 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:37 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Fish Lake–Deer Pass Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Mound–Tamarack Lake, 4 lakes 2.5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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