Lilydale-Harriet Island Park
Pickerel Lake–Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint, 4 sights
16.1 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 5 hr 28 min
Pickerel Lake–Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint, 4 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Lilydale-Harriet Island Park near Mendota Heights, MN. The route passes Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint and Pickerel Lake. It is mostly level, with 191 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pickerel Lake–Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint, 4 sights
16.1 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 5 hr 28 min
Elevation 698–913 ft
Out & Back · Lilydale-Harriet Island Park
Trailhead: 44.87832, -93.12923
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:06 PM
Transit-accessible: Mendakota Dr stop 235 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1.2 miPass Big Rivers Regional Viewpoint.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.9 miTurn left onto Lilydale Regional Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miPass Pickerel Lake.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 250 ftReach Pickerel Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Big Rivers Regional Trail, heading SW.
- 1.9 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.7 miArrive 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 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Mendakota Dr stop 235 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- East Thomas Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail 15.9 mi · ▲ 408 ft
- Carlson Lake via Big Rivers Regional Trail 16 mi · ▲ 464 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 6.4 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 189 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Big Rivers Regional Trail 7.4 mi · ▲ 214 ft
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