AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Thunder Canyon via Minnesota Valley State Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 31 min

Thunder Canyon via Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back near Shakopee, MN. The route reaches Thunder Canyon at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 768 ft5.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.78574, -93.48459
Nearest town Shakopee, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thunder Canyon via Minnesota Valley State Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 31 min

Elevation 722–768 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.78574, -93.48459

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

Transit-accessible: Pine Tree Ln stop 377 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right onto Encore, heading N.
  7. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.7 miTurn right onto Minnesota Valley State Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 150 ftReach Thunder Canyon, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  19. 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/thunder-canyon-out-back-7-km-c5b7

Trail surface

88% paved12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Pine Tree Ln stop 377 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shakopee, Minnesota