AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sechler Park

St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration–St. Olaf Natural Lands, 10 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 1 hr 52 min

St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration–St. Olaf Natural Lands, 10 lakes is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Sechler Park near Northfield, MN. The route passes St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration, St. Olaf Natural Lands, Big Pond and 3 more before reaching Woodland Pond at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 193 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi906 – 1,047 ft6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mill Towns State Trail 44.45400, -93.16815
Nearest town Northfield, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration–St. Olaf Natural Lands, 10 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 1 hr 52 min

Elevation 905–1,048 ft

Out & Back · Sechler Park

Trailhead: Mill Towns State Trail · 44.45400, -93.16815

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

Transit-accessible: Culver's stop 487 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Sechler Park Access Road, heading SW.
  2. 350 ftContinue straight onto CROCT Trail from Walgreens, heading SW.
  3. 350 ftContinue straight onto Sechler Park Access Road, heading SW.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Mill Towns State Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.9 miTurn right onto Sechler Park Access Road, heading NW.
  6. 150 ftPass St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration.
  7. 100 ftBear right onto Heath Creek Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  9. 450 ftPass St. Olaf Natural Lands.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Big Woods Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right onto Forest Restoration Loop, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miPass Big Pond.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Campus Drive, heading N.
  14. 200 ftPass Duckweed Pond.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Forest Restoration Loop, heading N.
  16. 100 ftSharp left onto Big Pond Loop, heading N.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 400 ftPass West Coyote Pond.
  19. 50 ftPass East Coyote Pond.
  20. 50 ftPass Woodland Pond.
  21. 200 ftContinue straight onto Conifer Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miReach St. Olaf Natural Lands Forest Restoration, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Big Pond Loop, heading W.
  24. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 0.1 miSharp right onto Forest Restoration Loop, heading E.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Campus Drive, heading E.
  27. 350 ftContinue straight onto Forest Restoration Loop, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 0.4 miTurn left onto Heath Creek Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
  31. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sechler Park Access Road, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Mill Towns State Trail, heading SE.
  33. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Sechler Park Access Road, heading NE.
  34. 100 ftContinue straight onto CROCT Trail from Walgreens, heading NE.
  35. 350 ftContinue straight onto Sechler Park Access Road, heading NE.
  36. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/st-olaf-natural-lands-forest-restoration-st-olaf-natural-lands-out-back-11-lakes

Trail surface

40% paved38% dirt15% grass7% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Culver's stop 487 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Mill Towns State Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Northfield, Minnesota