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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Trojan Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftBear left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
- 2.1 miTurn left onto South West Trail Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 100 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Trojan Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right, 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
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.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Trojan Trail 10.2 mi · ▲ 223 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 161 ft
- Northwood Lake–French Park Beach, 3 beaches 13.5 mi · ▲ 414 ft
- Elm Creek Forest Trail via Medicine Lake Regional Trail 12.7 mi · ▲ 191 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 6.4 mi · ▲ 161 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 166 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Hamel, Minnesota