AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park

Valentine Lake–Island Lake, 3 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 168 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Valentine Lake–Island Lake, 3 lakes is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park near Cardigan Junction, MN. The route passes Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park Beach and Island Lake before reaching Valentine Lake at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 168 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 978 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.06572, -93.12428
Nearest town Cardigan Junction, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Valentine Lake–Island Lake, 3 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 168 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Elevation 885–979 ft

Out & Back · Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park

Trailhead: 45.06572, -93.12428

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

Transit-accessible: Valley View Court stop 643 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Vadnais - Snail Lakes Regional Park Beach.
  3. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miSharp left, heading W.
  7. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 400 ftBear left, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miPass Island Lake.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  20. 0.2 miReach Valentine Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  28. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
  31. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  32. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  33. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  34. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  35. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  36. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 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/valentine-lake-island-lake-out-back-4-lakes-11-km

Trail surface

91% paved9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Valley View Court stop 643 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Cardigan Junction, Minnesota