South West Trail Loop

7.2 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 28 min

South West Trail Loop is a 7.2-mile out-and-back near Hamel, MN. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi978 – 1,043 ft9.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.04274, -93.52129
Nearest town Hamel, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South West Trail Loop

7.2 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 28 min

Elevation 977–1,042 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 45.04274, -93.52129

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trojan Trail, heading NE.
  4. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  5. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  10. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  15. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 2.1 miTurn left onto South West Trail Loop, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  21. 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  25. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 100 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  32. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  37. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  38. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  39. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  40. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  41. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  42. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trojan Trail, heading W.
  44. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  45. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  46. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  47. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  48. 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

93% paved7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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