South West Trail Loop
14.3 mi · ▲ 302 ft · 4 hr 55 min
South West Trail Loop is a 14.3-mile out-and-back near Wayzata, MN. It climbs 302 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
South West Trail Loop
14.3 mi · ▲ 302 ft · 4 hr 55 min
Elevation 909–1,026 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 44.99828, -93.49158
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Transit-accessible: St Philip Park & Ride stop 611 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right onto South West Trail Loop, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 2.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fish Lake West Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 2.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto South West Trail Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miArrive 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 2.9 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: St Philip Park & Ride stop 611 m from the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- South West Trail Loop 14.3 mi · ▲ 302 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 12.7 mi · ▲ 242 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 12.7 mi · ▲ 242 ft
- Weaver Lake Park Beach via South West Trail Loop 15.8 mi · ▲ 354 ft
- Weaver Lake & Weaver Lake Park Beach via South West Trail Loop 16 mi · ▲ 354 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 9.8 mi · ▲ 161 ft
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