Carver County Highpoint Trip Report

Dates: November 11, 2004 and February 12, 2005
Author: Mark Ness

Carver County's high points come in two groups. The first is a group of five hills in a residential area of Chanhassen. The other group is a pair of small hills in a field located several miles away, west of Augusta. I completed this county in two visits -- November 11, 2004 and February 12, 2005.

western pair

I came from the south, via Kelly Avenue, about 3 miles east of Cologne on U.S. Highway 212. I turned right onto Carver County Road 140 after 1.5 miles on Kelly Avenue but that was a turn too soon. I turned around and got back on track. It was almost sundown and I was in a hurry to get to the western pair before it was too dark to see. I got back to Kelly Avenue, then turned right onto Augusta Road for 0.25 mile, then left onto Juniper for 0.4 mile to a spot on the road near the high point area. I parked on the side of the road.

The field adjacent to the road was plowed then, at the hill crest, it was mowed grass.

The two bumps of this pair are definite but do not have significant rise above the surrounding 1070-foot terrain. I walked along the entire ridge just to be sure I claimed the top spot in this area.

Total time out of my car was 8 minutes. I could hear a dog barking at the farm to the north. The sun was setting just as I got back to my car.

I knew that it would be dark by the time I got to the other group but I went for it anyway. I was in such a hurry, I didn't even take the time to make a trip plan but I eventually got onto C.R. 11, which led to Victoria, where I took S.H. 5 east for 3.45 miles to S.H. 41, where I turned left (northeast). Then, after 1.6 miles, I turned right onto Lake Lucy Road. Within that community are four streets in particular, named Highover Trail, Highover Drive, Highover Way, and Highover Court.

group of five

The easiest way into the community is via Lake Lucy Road. I didn't look around for other entrances.

I parked opposite the house at 6955 Highover Court North. I asked permission at the house to scale the hill in their back yard. The owner thought that the house across the street (area #2) was the highest but granted me permission anyway. So I walked between her house and the house to its right, up the hill to a "No Tresspassing" gate. It was quite dark and, after some deliberation, hopped over the fence to an undeveloped area in the woods where the first area crested. I walked around the summit area briefly then returned to the street.

I got back on Highover Court and headed for the house on Area 2. It is at the intersection of Highover Way and Highover Court (a "T" intersection). I walked up to and around the street side of the house, which appeared higher than the back.

I got back on Highover Court and headed for the house on Area 3. It is at the end of Highover Court (a cul-de-sac dead-end). I walked up to and around the street side of the house but, in the twilight, I wasn't sure whether the ground behind the house was higher.

Area 4 is the largest 1080-foot contour in the county. I walked up to and around the street side of the house but thought the area behind it was higher. I didn't feel like looking around after dark, so decided to finish areas 4 and 5 at another time. That time came on February 12, 2005. I drove up to the area I had visited before. I knocked on the door to house 6966 Highover Drive, and asked permission. It was granted. I realized after I walked around that property that the high point was to the north at 6934 Highover Drive. I knocked there but got no response. I walked along the fence line that separates the two properties and concluded that the HP is a ridge on the north side of the fence, about 100 feet from the street. Total time hiking was about 5 minutes, including door-knocking.

Area 5: I continued driving south on Highover Drive to its endpoint at a fence. The sign on the fence mentioned that the road would eventually be extended. There was no sign forbidding entry like there was on Area 1. At this point, it was 0.16 mile to the top. (A shorter walk could probably be accomplished from the Gunflint Trail to its south but that would involve a longer drive). I crossed the fence (could go around or under a high sign) and walked through the woods and clearing past a house to the path's right. Shallow patches of snow covered the ground on this warm day. We don't often get 50° F in February. There was a vehicle trail for the middle part of the way leading to the base of the hill. It was an obvious hill, grassy, but flat on top and gravelly. Total time out of my van was about 10 minutes.