B Trail & Black Trail
5.5 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 1 hr 54 min
B Trail & Black Trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Matsell Bridge Natural Area near Jackson, IA. It is mostly level, with 136 ft of elevation gain. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
B Trail & Black Trail
5.5 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 1 hr 54 min
Elevation 791–897 ft
Out & Back · Matsell Bridge Natural Area
Trailhead: 42.14228, -91.38505
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:08 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto B Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading S.
- 1 miTurn left onto Black Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miReach B Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto B Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftArrive 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 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:31 PM — 5 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- B Trail & Purple Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Purple Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Blue Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Blue Trail & Yellow Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft
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Hikes near Jackson, Iowa