Schaper Pond–Spring Pond, 9 lakes
5.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Schaper Pond–Spring Pond, 9 lakes is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Theodore Wirth Park near Golden Valley, MN. The route passes Lilac Pond, Chicago Pond, Pond C and 5 more before reaching Wirth Lake at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Schaper Pond–Spring Pond, 9 lakes
5.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Elevation 833–899 ft
Out & Back · Theodore Wirth Park
Trailhead: 45.00247, -93.36035
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Douglas Dr & Sandburg Rd stop 95 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miPass Lilac Pond.
- 50 ftPass Chicago Pond.
- 0.3 miPass Pond C.
- 50 ftPass Spring Pond.
- 50 ftPass Schaper Pond.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 400 ftPass Breck Pond 2.
- 0.3 miPass Wirth Pond.
- 0.2 miPass Wirth Lake Beach.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 400 ftPass Wirth Lake.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftReach Schaper Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, 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 1.3 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:24 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Douglas Dr & Sandburg Rd stop 95 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Wirth Lake–Bassett Creek Lagoons, 12 lakes 6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Back 40–Sweeney Lake, 10 lakes 4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Perpich Center West Pond & Perpich Center East Pond via Luce Line Regional Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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