Prairie Oaks Trail
8.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Prairie Oaks Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Sunshine Park near Andover, MN. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Prairie Oaks Trail
8.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Elevation 856–911 ft
Out & Back · Sunshine Park
Trailhead: 45.24582, -93.31650
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Hanson Blvd stop 414 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 400 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Prairie Oaks Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 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 2.8 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Hanson Blvd stop 414 m from the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Prairie Oaks Trail 8.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Prairie Oaks Trail 7.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Prairie Oaks Trail 6 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Prairie Oaks Trail 6 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Prairie Oaks Trail 8.3 mi · ▲ 84 ft
- Prairie Oaks Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 84 ft
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