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This hike circles the Louisville Swamp.


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Map Key

7.3

Miles

11.7

KM

Point to Point

802' 244 m

High

716' 218 m

Low

439' 134 m

Up

438' 134 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

The Flood's Road section that crosses Sand Creek is currently closed.

Overview

This loop traverses the Louisville Swamp, featuring wetlands, forests, the Johnson Slough, Sand Creek, an interesting glacial boulder, and the Minnesota River.

Need to Know

Trail portions that go through wetlands can be very muddy, especially following rain or thaw.

Description

The hike starts at the northern parking area and heads south. Stay left to avoid getting stuck at the closed portion of the trail. You'll pass the Ehmiller Homesite, a bottomland forest, and a crossing of Sand Creek. More forests, wetlands, and another stream crossing will get you to Middle Road. Follow this trail, noting the large glacial boulder off the trail to the right.

Turn right at Flood's Road. Stay left at the fork, hiking to the intersection with the State Corridor Trail. Follow this trail north along the Minnesota River, passing a canoe-in campsite and traveling back into the bottomland forest. Johnson Slough will be visible on your right.

Once you've reached the northern end of the area, the trail will move away from the river, crossing Sand Creek. Once you reach the access trail, follow it south and east until you arrive back at the parking lot.

History & Background

The Louisville Swamp Unit was once home to a Wahpeton Sioux village called Inyan Ceyaka Otonwe (Little Rapids). The unit’s Mazomani Trail is named after a Wahpeton chief. Jean-Baptiste Faribault built a fur trading post near the village in 1802 and lived here for seven years. The exact site of the village and trading post are lost, but the remains of two historic farmsteads are still visible. The Ehmiller Farmstead is in ruins, but at the Jabs Farm, two buildings have been restored and a third stabilized. The barn was built in 1880 by Robert and Anna Riedel. Frederick Jabs bought the 379 acre farmstead in 1905 and his family lived there as subsistence farmers until 1952.

Contacts

Shared By:

Austin Lynch

Trail Ratings

  3.2 from 5 votes

#5204

Overall
  3.2 from 5 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
60%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
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1 Star
20%
Recommended Route Rankings

#43

in Minnesota

#5,204

Overall
8 Views Last Month
2,939 Since Sep 12, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Louisville Swamp Unit.
Sep 12, 2017 near Carver, MN
Heading south on the Mazomani Trail.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Going east toward the trailhead on the State Trail Access Trail.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Sand Creek.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Johnson Slough.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Looking upstream on the Minnesota River.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

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Aug 17, 2022
BK Hope
Jan 20, 2018
Jim Conway
4.2mi
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