Hard
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 32.7 km / 20.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 292 m
- Typical duration
- 7 hr 47 min
- Lake
Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes Loop
ExpertMinnesota · United States
- Distance
- 38.5 km (23.9 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 272 m (892 ft)
- Typical time
- 9 hr 8 min
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Route type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 486 m (1,594 ft)
About Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes Loop
Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes Loop is a 38.5 km hiking route in Minnesota, United States. It climbs roughly 272 m (892 ft) along the way, topping out at 486 m (1,594 ft). Most people take around 2 days at a comfortable pace, plus stops. The combination of distance, ascent and exposure puts this at the top end of what a day hike can be.
The water is the anchor of the route, still enough on calm mornings to mirror everything above it.
It is a 38.5 km loop, so you finish where you started and never repeat a section. It is not consistently waymarked, so carry a map or a downloaded track rather than relying on signs.
Spring through autumn is the natural window, and shoulder season means fewer people on the narrow sections. The route is maintained by United States Forest Service.
In short, Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes Loop suits experienced mountain walkers who are comfortable with exposure, navigation and long descents. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.
Route map
Expert38.5 km272 m486 m
Numbered marks every 5 km
Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation
Elevation
Elevation profile
- Ascent
- +272 m
- Descent
- −273 m
- High
- 486 m (1,594 ft)
- Low
- 437 m (1,434 ft)
The route in detail
The loop is usually walked clockwise from the main trailhead. The gradient is spread evenly, so there is no single section that dictates your pace. The return leg is the reverse of the outward journey, which makes it easy to judge remaining time.
Highlights
- Lake
- Circular route, no backtracking
Know before you go
- Best season
- April to October
- Waymarked
- Not consistently
- Surface
- Mixed natural surface
- Dogs
- Not recorded, check locally
- Wheelchair access
- Not accessible
- Entrance fee
- No fee recorded
- Camping
- Not recorded
- Drinking water
- Carry your own
- Toilets
- Not recorded
- Mobile coverage
- Generally usable
- Parking
- Park at the trailhead, arrive early in high season
- Emergency
- 112 in Europe, 911 in North America
How this trail scores
Computed from distance, ascent, terrain features, surface and access data.
- Scenery
- 59/100
- Adventure
- 45/100
- Difficulty
- 99/100
- Accessibility
- 31/100
- Family
- 27/100
- Dogs
- 55/100
Terrain features, relief and photographic interest
Distance, ascent and how wild the ground is
Effort index from distance and climbing
Surface, gradient and ease of reaching it
Suitability for children who already walk
Access rules, terrain and water along the way
Tips from the trail
- Start at first light. A long day is far more pleasant when you are not racing the sunset on the descent.
- Aim for april to october for the most reliable conditions.
- Calm mornings give mirror reflections on the water, so it is worth being there early.
- Download the track to your phone before you leave. Signal is not guaranteed.
- Break the route into stages and decide your turnaround time before you set off.
- Leave nothing behind, including fruit peel, and stay on the marked line to protect the ground either side.
Warnings
- This route is long and sustained. Turn back early rather than late if the weather closes in.
- Outside the main season expect snow, ice or closed access on the higher sections.
Safety
Emergency services in United States are reached on 911. Tell someone your route and expected finish time before you set off, particularly if you are walking alone. Mobile coverage is generally usable along this route, but do not rely on it as your only plan. If the weather deteriorates, descending the way you came is almost always the safer option.
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Weatherproof jacket
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Offline map and compass
- Head torch and spare battery
- Extra warm layer
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- Real food, not just snacks
- Small first aid kit including blister plasters
Photography
Overcast light suits this route better than harsh midday sun, especially under tree cover. Because it is a loop, the light changes direction as you go, so save some memory for the back half. A wide lens captures the scale, but a short telephoto is what turns a good view into a photograph.
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
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