AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes

4.2 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 1 hr 26 min

St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes is a 4.2-mile out-and-back near Northfield, MN. The route passes St. Olaf Natural Lands, Baseball Pond, Soccer Pond and 4 more. It is mostly level, with 56 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi978 – 1,056 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ellingson Woods Trail 44.46392, -93.18174
Nearest town Northfield, MN
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes

4.2 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 1 hr 26 min

Elevation 978–1,057 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Ellingson Woods Trail · 44.46392, -93.18174

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

Transit-accessible: St. Olaf College stop 218 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ellingson Woods Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass St. Olaf Natural Lands.
  3. 0.1 miPass Baseball Pond.
  4. 100 ftTurn left onto Baseball Pond Loop, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miPass Soccer Pond.
  6. 100 ftSharp right onto Knoll Loop, heading N.
  7. 400 ftTurn right onto Prairie Loop, heading W.
  8. 1.1 miPass Big Pond.
  9. 50 ftPass West Coyote Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass East Coyote Pond.
  11. 250 ftTurn right onto Big Pond Loop, heading SE.
  12. 450 ftPass Woodland Pond.
  13. 250 ftBear left onto Windmill Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miReach St. Olaf Natural Lands, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.5 miBear right onto Big Pond Loop, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left onto Prairie Loop, heading NW.
  17. 1.1 miTurn left onto Knoll Loop, heading E.
  18. 400 ftSharp left onto Baseball Pond Loop, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right onto Ellingson Woods Trail, heading SE.
  20. 350 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/st-olaf-natural-lands-big-pond-out-back-15-lakes-7-km-b34c

Trail surface

83% grass17% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: St. Olaf College stop 218 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Northfield, Minnesota