AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

Shadow Falls–Winchell Viewpoint, 3 beaches

5.7 mi · ▲ 377 ft · 2 hr 5 min

Shadow Falls–Winchell Viewpoint, 3 beaches is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Mississippi Gorge Regional Park near Mendota, MN. The route passes Longfellow Beach, Shadow Falls, Winchell Viewpoint and Longfellow Beach. It climbs 377 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi728 – 827 ft7.8 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

5.7 mi · ▲ 377 ft · 2 hr 5 min

Elevation 730–826 ft

Out & Back · Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

Trailhead: 44.92235, -93.19759

Weather Sep 26: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:05 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 miPass Longfellow Beach.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  25. 0.4 miSharp right onto West River Parkway Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miReach Shadow Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  29. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  30. 450 ftContinue straight onto Winchell Trail, heading N.
  31. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  32. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  33. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  35. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  36. 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  38. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  39. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  42. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  44. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  46. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  47. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  48. 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
  49. 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-5-beaches

Trail surface

82% dirt18% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:05 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 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