River Bend Nature Center

Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 6 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 6 sights is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in River Bend Nature Center near Faribault, MN. The route passes Upper Pond, Prairie Pond and Upper Pond. It is mostly level, with 232 ft of elevation gain. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi981 – 1,129 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.27207, -93.26878
Nearest town Faribault, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Prairie Pond–Upper Pond, 6 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Elevation 982–1,129 ft

Out & Back · River Bend Nature Center

Trailhead: 44.27207, -93.26878

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:07 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftTurn left onto River Bend Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right onto Rabbit Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto Teepee Tonka Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  8. 300 ftPass Upper Pond.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 300 ftPass Prairie Pond.
  11. 150 ftSharp left onto Prairie Loop, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Raccoon Trail, heading N.
  13. 150 ftPass Upper Pond.
  14. 150 ftSharp right onto Arbor Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.1 miSharp left onto Walnut Trail, heading NE.
  17. 0.3 miReach Prairie Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right onto Overlook Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left onto Arbor Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.1 miSharp left onto Raccoon Trail, heading SW.
  21. 250 ftTurn right onto Prairie Loop, heading SW.
  22. 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 450 ftBear right, heading W.
  25. 450 ftTurn right onto Teepee Tonka Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left onto Rabbit Trail, heading NW.
  27. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right onto River Bend Trail, heading SW.
  29. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 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

46% gravel41% dirt12% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:07 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:30 PM — 6 min before dark.

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