AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area

America's State Tree Woodland Walk–Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, 5 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 746 ft · 2 hr 26 min

America's State Tree Woodland Walk–Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, 5 sights is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near Cattese, IA. It climbs 746 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi597 – 810 ft · steepest grade: 24%6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Prairie Ridge Trail 42.45389, -90.63114
Nearest town Cattese, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

America's State Tree Woodland Walk–Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, 5 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 746 ft · 2 hr 26 min

Elevation 598–810 ft

Out & Back · Mines of Spain State Recreation Area

Trailhead: Prairie Ridge Trail · 42.45389, -90.63114

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Sauk and Fox Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.5 miTurn right onto Wetland Trail, heading N.
  3. 250 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftSharp left onto Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Horseshoe Bluff Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miSharp left onto Calcite Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mesquakie Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miBear right onto Lead Mine Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto 2, heading W.
  10. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 250 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading SE.
  12. 250 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading SE.
  14. 200 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading W.
  16. 100 ftBear left onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miReach Sauk and Fox Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miBear right onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading S.
  21. 250 ftBear left onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto 2, heading SW.
  25. 100 ftTurn left onto Lead Mine Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear left onto Mesquakie Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.9 miTurn right onto Calcite Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.7 miSharp right onto Horseshoe Bluff Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miBear right onto Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, heading SE.
  30. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  31. 50 ftSharp left onto Wetland Trail, heading N.
  32. 250 ftTurn left onto Sauk and Fox Trail, heading S.
  33. 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/americas-state-tree-woodland-walk-horseshoe-bluff-nature-trail-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

74% dirt7% paved3% grass16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:49 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Prairie Ridge Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Cattese, Iowa