Trail Run Project Logo

An easy trail along Big Stone Lake, source of the Minnesota River.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List

2.1

Miles

3.4

KM

95%

Runnable

1,049' 320 m

High

971' 296 m

Low

224' 68 m

Up

222' 68 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · Swimming · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The park is open daily year-round from 8 AM until 10 PM. The park is staffed daily during the shoulder and summer seasons. Office hours vary during this time due to other park responsibilities. A vehicle permit ($7/day, $35/year) is required to enter and park in the park.

Need to Know

This trail is in the park's Bonanza Area, which is 12 miles north, along Highway 7, from park headquarters in the Meadowbrook Area.

Description

The trailhead is at the southern parking lot in the Bonanza Area. This is also a boat launch and the only amenity here is a primitive pit toilet. From here, the trail runs north along the lake through the oak savanna before looping back on itself near a very small waterfall (Benkowski Falls). In the summer months, this trail offers a cool, shaded run under the old oak trees. A beach on the lake is readily accessible about 0.6 miles north of the trailhead. The Bonanza Educational Center is at the north end of the trail. It's worth a visit if it's open when you're there.

Contacts

Shared By:

BK Hope

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#44260

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
100%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#485

in Minnesota

#44,260

Overall
0 Views Last Month
0 Since Jan 21, 2025
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

0%
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Through the oak forest north of the beach.
Jan 21, 2025 near Ortonville, MN
Along the trail inland from Big Stone Lake.
Jan 21, 2025 near Ortonville, MN
Big Stone Lake from the beach along the trail.
Jan 21, 2025 near Ortonville, MN
Past prairie land north of the trailhead.
Jan 21, 2025 near Ortonville, MN

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.