Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
McVay Trail–Missing Link, 3 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 267 ft · 5 hr 18 min
McVay Trail–Missing Link, 3 sights is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park near Summerset, IA. It climbs 267 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McVay Trail–Missing Link, 3 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 267 ft · 5 hr 18 min
Elevation 778–964 ft
Out & Back · Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
Trailhead: Missing Link · 41.44435, -93.54464
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Missing Link, heading SW.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Corner Pocket, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Summerset Trail, heading S.
- 5.7 miBear left onto McVay Trail, heading W.
- 1.9 miReach Missing Link, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.9 miBear right onto Summerset Trail, heading N.
- 5.7 miBear left onto Corner Pocket, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Missing Link, heading NW.
- 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 4.7 mi in (~120 min). Leave by 4:57 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Missing Link Trailhead
- Jerry Kelly Trail–Missing Link, 3 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 213 ft
- Coal Miner's Daughter & Missing Link 3.6 mi · ▲ 86 ft
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Hikes near Summerset, Iowa