River Bend Nature Center
Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 4 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 125 ft · 1 hr 34 min
Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 4 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in River Bend Nature Center near Faribault, MN. The route passes Prairie Pond and Upper Pond. It is mostly level, with 125 ft of elevation gain. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 4 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 125 ft · 1 hr 34 min
Elevation 982–1,078 ft
Out & Back · River Bend Nature Center
Trailhead: 44.27716, -93.24197
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:09 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Prairie Pond.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Prairie Loop, heading SW.
- 500 ftPass Upper Pond.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 450 ftBear right, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Teepee Tonka Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Rabbit Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto River Bend Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miReach Prairie Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Rabbit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Teepee Tonka Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftBear left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Loop, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 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 1.6 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 5 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 315 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Faribault, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Faribault, Minnesota