AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Thomas Lake–Carlson Lake, 5 lakes

13.6 mi · ▲ 698 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Thomas Lake–Carlson Lake, 5 lakes is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Lebanon Hills Regional Park near Eagan, MN. The route passes Carlson Lake, East Thomas Lake, Thomas Lake and 2 more. It climbs 698 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi863 – 1,053 ft14.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.81891, -93.14545
Nearest town Eagan, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thomas Lake–Carlson Lake, 5 lakes

13.6 mi · ▲ 698 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Elevation 863–1,052 ft

Out & Back · Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Trailhead: 44.81891, -93.14545

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

Transit-accessible: Lexington Av stop 93 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 300 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  5. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.5 miPass Carlson Lake.
  7. 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
  8. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 0.5 miPass East Thomas Lake.
  10. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftPass Thomas Lake.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 0.6 miPass Frog Pond.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 450 ftSharp left, heading S.
  25. 0.4 miPass Wheaton Pond.
  26. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftSharp left onto North Creek Greenway, heading S.
  31. 0.6 miReach Thomas Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 0.6 miSharp right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  34. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  35. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  36. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  37. 0.5 miSharp right, heading SE.
  38. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  40. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  41. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  42. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  43. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  45. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  46. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  47. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  48. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  50. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  51. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  52. 1 miTurn left, heading E.
  53. 450 ftSharp left, heading E.
  54. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  55. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  56. 0.7 miArrive 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/thomas-lake-carlson-lake-out-back-7-lakes-22-km

Trail surface

71% paved27% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Lexington Av stop 93 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Eagan, Minnesota