Blue Heron Lake & Raccoon River Park Beach via Raccoon River Park Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Blue Heron Lake & Raccoon River Park Beach via Raccoon River Park Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Raccoon River Park near Commerce, IA. The route passes Blue Heron Lake before reaching Raccoon River Park Beach at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Blue Heron Lake & Raccoon River Park Beach via Raccoon River Park Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Elevation 815–908 ft
Out & Back · Raccoon River Park
Trailhead: 50th Street Trail · 41.54193, -93.76532
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:18 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on 50th Street Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Grand Avenue Trail, heading E.
- 1.6 miPass Raccoon River Park Beach.
- 350 ftBear right onto Raccoon River Park Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Blue Heron Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Grand Avenue Trail, heading SE.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto 50th Street Trail, heading W.
- 50 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 right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:57 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:18 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:45 PM.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from 50th Street Trail Trailhead
- 50th Street Trail 6.7 mi · ▲ 111 ft
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Hikes near Commerce, Iowa