Upper Prior Lake–Mystic Lake, 3 lakes
10.9 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Upper Prior Lake–Mystic Lake, 3 lakes is a 10.9-mile out-and-back near Prior Lake, MN. The route passes Upper Prior Lake and Mystic Lake. It is mostly level, with 242 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Upper Prior Lake–Mystic Lake, 3 lakes
10.9 mi · ▲ 242 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Elevation 900–1,049 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 44.70536, -93.43580
Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Big Woods Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miPass Upper Prior Lake.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 1.7 miPass Mystic Lake.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftReach Upper Prior Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 4.4 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.2 mi in (~133 min). Leave by 4:35 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Big Woods Regional Trail 2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Big Woods Regional Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Prior Lake, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Prior Lake, Minnesota