AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

Shadow Falls–Winchell Viewpoint, 3 beaches

3.9 mi · ▲ 384 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Shadow Falls–Winchell Viewpoint, 3 beaches is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Mississippi Gorge Regional Park near Mendota, MN. The route passes Longfellow Beach, Shadow Falls and Winchell Viewpoint. It climbs 384 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi728 – 827 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.92235, -93.19759
Nearest town Mendota, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shadow Falls–Winchell Viewpoint, 3 beaches

3.9 mi · ▲ 384 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 730–826 ft

Out & Back · Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

Trailhead: 44.92235, -93.19759

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:06 PM

Transit-accessible: Ford & Woodlawn Station stop 489 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.8 miPass Longfellow Beach.
  4. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  6. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 100 ftPass Shadow Falls.
  15. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  17. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  18. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 0.1 miPass Winchell Viewpoint.
  21. 350 ftSharp left onto Winchell Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miReach Shadow Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  27. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  28. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  30. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  31. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  39. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  40. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  41. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/shadow-falls-winchell-viewpoint-out-back-4-viewpoints

Trail surface

72% dirt28% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Ford & Woodlawn Station stop 489 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mendota, Minnesota