Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop & Wildwood Lake via Rock Island Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 279 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop & Wildwood Lake via Rock Island Trail is an 8.7-mile out-and-back near Vale, MO. The route passes Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop before reaching Wildwood Lake at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 279 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi794 – 932 ft · steepest grade: 15%8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rock Island Trail 98th Street Trailhead 38.94368, -94.43728
Nearest town Vale, MO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop & Wildwood Lake via Rock Island Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 279 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Elevation 793–931 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Rock Island Trail 98th Street Trailhead · 38.94368, -94.43728

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:20 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rock Island Trail, heading N.
  2. 4.1 miPass Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop.
  3. 0.2 miPass Wildwood Lake.
  4. 150 ftReach Bethany Falls & Middle Creek Limestone Outcrop, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 4.3 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

98% gravel2% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:20 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~78 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 7:20 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Rock Island Trail 98th Street Trailhead Trailhead