Valley Lake Park
Valley Lake–Katie Pond, 3 lakes
6.1 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Valley Lake–Katie Pond, 3 lakes is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Valley Lake Park near Apple Valley, MN. The route passes Valley Lake Park Beach, Valley Lake and Valley Lake Park Beach before reaching Katie Pond at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 166 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Valley Lake–Katie Pond, 3 lakes
6.1 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Elevation 937–1,068 ft
Out & Back · Valley Lake Park
Trailhead: 44.71344, -93.20365
Weather Sep 24: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Transit-accessible: Flagstaff Av stop 684 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Valley Lake Park Beach.
- 0.1 miPass Valley Lake.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Valley Lake Park Beach.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miPass Katie Pond.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 300 ftReach Valley Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Transit-accessible: Flagstaff Av stop 684 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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