AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Branched Oak State Recreation Area

Branched Oak Lake

1.1 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 24 min

Branched Oak Lake is a 1.1-mile out-and-back in Branched Oak State Recreation Area near Malcolm, NE. The route reaches Branched Oak Lake at the turnaround, 0.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 59 ft of elevation gain. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,289 – 1,365 ft1.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.95794, -96.87227
Nearest town Malcolm, NE
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Branched Oak Lake

1.1 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 24 min

Elevation 1,291–1,363 ft

Out & Back · Branched Oak State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 40.95794, -96.87227

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:15 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 500 ftReach Branched Oak Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 150 ftArrive 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/branched-oak-lake-out-back-2-km

Weather

Sunrise 7:15 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:03 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM — 7 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Malcolm, Nebraska