AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Backbone State Park

Backbone Lake & Backbone State Park Beach via East Lake Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 47 min

Backbone Lake & Backbone State Park Beach via East Lake Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Backbone State Park near Forestville, IA. The route passes Backbone State Park Beach and Backbone Lake. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi981 – 1,030 ft2.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Lake Trail 42.59903, -91.53794
Nearest town Forestville, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Backbone Lake & Backbone State Park Beach via East Lake Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 47 min

Elevation 982–1,030 ft

Out & Back · Backbone State Park

Trailhead: West Lake Trail · 42.59903, -91.53794

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:09 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on West Lake Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miPass Backbone State Park Beach.
  3. 50 ftPass Backbone Lake.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto East Lake Trail, heading NE.
  6. 450 ftBear right onto East Lake Trail (ambiguous), heading NW.
  7. 0.6 miBear left onto East Lake Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miReach Backbone Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.8 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/backbone-lake-out-back

Trail surface

45% dirt17% gravel11% grass6% paved21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:09 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Forestville, Iowa