Copper Creek Lake Park

Copper Creek Lake via Gay Lea Wilson Trail

10.4 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 3 hr 31 min

Copper Creek Lake via Gay Lea Wilson Trail is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Copper Creek Lake Park near Altoona, IA. The route reaches Copper Creek Lake. It is mostly level, with 84 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi797 – 922 ft10.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.64230, -93.47719
Nearest town Altoona, IA

Directions

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Copper Creek Lake via Gay Lea Wilson Trail

10.4 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 3 hr 31 min

Elevation 798–921 ft

Out & Back · Copper Creek Lake Park

Trailhead: 41.64230, -93.47719

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miBear left onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading S.
  3. 4.2 miPass Copper Creek Lake.
  4. 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 150 ftReach Copper Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 4.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  8. 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 surface

91% paved9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:48 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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