Vast prairie view Arb.jpg
Theodore Christopher · CC0

Upper Arboretum–Lower Arboretum, 6 groves is a 5.6-mile out-and-back near Waterford, MN. The route passes Retention Pond, Lower Arboretum, Lilac Hill and 3 more. It is mostly level, with 192 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi899 – 997 ft6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.47482, -93.13147
Nearest town Waterford, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Upper Arboretum–Lower Arboretum, 6 groves

5.6 mi · ▲ 192 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Elevation 899–997 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.47482, -93.13147

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miPass Retention Pond.
  6. 50 ftPass Lower Arboretum.
  7. 50 ftPass Lilac Hill.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miPass Upper Lyman Lake.
  10. 50 ftPass Lower Lyman Lake.
  11. 0.1 miPass Upper Arboretum.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  13. 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miReach Upper Arboretum, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  22. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
  24. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right onto Carleton Arboretum Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  28. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  29. 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

26% gravel18% paved7% dirt2% grass47% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 5:40 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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