St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes

4.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 27 min

St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes is a 4.3-mile out-and-back near Northfield, MN. The route passes Baseball Pond, St. Olaf Natural Lands, Soccer Pond and 4 more. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi968 – 1,014 ft4.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.47133, -93.17891
Nearest town Northfield, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

St. Olaf Natural Lands–Big Pond, 10 lakes

4.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 27 min

Elevation 968–1,014 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.47133, -93.17891

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

Transit-accessible: Northfield Manor stop 251 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miPass Baseball Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass St. Olaf Natural Lands.
  4. 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
  5. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 300 ftContinue straight onto Baseball Pond Loop, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miPass Soccer Pond.
  9. 100 ftTurn right onto Knoll Loop, heading W.
  10. 350 ftTurn right onto Prairie Loop, heading W.
  11. 1.1 miPass Big Pond.
  12. 50 ftPass West Coyote Pond.
  13. 50 ftPass East Coyote Pond.
  14. 200 ftTurn right onto Big Pond Loop, heading SE.
  15. 500 ftPass Woodland Pond.
  16. 200 ftBear left onto Windmill Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.5 miReach St. Olaf Natural Lands, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.5 miBear right onto Big Pond Loop, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left onto Prairie Loop, heading N.
  20. 1.1 miTurn left onto Knoll Loop, heading SE.
  21. 350 ftTurn left onto Baseball Pond Loop, heading E.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  24. 200 ftSharp left, heading E.
  25. 0.1 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

81% grass10% paved6% gravel3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Northfield Manor stop 251 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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