Blue Trail & Yellow Trail
3.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Blue Trail & Yellow Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Matsell Bridge Natural Area near Jackson, IA. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Blue Trail & Yellow Trail
3.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Elevation 789–897 ft
Out & Back · Matsell Bridge Natural Area
Trailhead: 42.14228, -91.38505
Weather Sep 20: Heavy rain, high 69°F / low 59° · precip 98% · wind 7 mph · 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 miTurn left onto Purple Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miReach Yellow Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 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 7:32 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
- B Trail & Black Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 136 ft
- Purple Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Blue Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft
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