Sweeney Lake–Schaper Pond, 7 lakes
4.9 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 1 hr 41 min
Sweeney Lake–Schaper Pond, 7 lakes is a 4.9-mile out-and-back near Golden Valley, MN. The route passes Lilac Pond, Chicago Pond, Pond C and 2 more before reaching Sweeney Lake at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sweeney Lake–Schaper Pond, 7 lakes
4.9 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 1 hr 41 min
Elevation 829–930 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 44.98947, -93.37922
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Transit-accessible: Orkla Dr stop 104 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Luce Line Regional Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Lilac Pond.
- 50 ftPass Chicago Pond.
- 0.3 miPass Pond C.
- 50 ftPass Spring Pond.
- 50 ftPass Schaper Pond.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftReach Sweeney Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Orkla Dr stop 104 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Medicine Lake–Gleason Lake, 5 lakes 16.1 mi · ▲ 137 ft
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