Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
America's State Tree Woodland Walk–John & Alice Butler Trail, 3 sights
3.7 mi · ▲ 328 ft · 1 hr 24 min
America's State Tree Woodland Walk–John & Alice Butler Trail, 3 sights is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near South Switch Junction, IA. It climbs 328 ft. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
America's State Tree Woodland Walk–John & Alice Butler Trail, 3 sights
3.7 mi · ▲ 328 ft · 1 hr 24 min
Elevation 595–808 ft
Out & Back · Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Julien Dubuque Trail · 42.46845, -90.64864
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:50 AM · sunset 7:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Julien Dubuque Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Mines of Spain Road, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Calcite Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Mesquakie Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Lead Mine Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto 2, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading NW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach Mesquakie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto 2, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Lead Mine Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Mesquakie Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Calcite Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Mines of Spain Road, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left onto Julien Dubuque Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:44 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:04 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:32 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Julien Dubuque Trail Trailhead
- John & Alice Butler Trail & Mesquakie Trail via Calcite Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 262 ft
- Mesquakie Trail & Pine Chapel Trail via Calcite Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 243 ft
- Calcite Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 154 ft
- Calcite Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 312 ft
- Calcite Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 308 ft
- Observation Deck & Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail via Calcite Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 342 ft
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Hikes near South Switch Junction, Iowa