Easter Lake–Jackson Basin, 5 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 4 hr 16 min
Easter Lake–Jackson Basin, 5 sights is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Easter Lake Park near Des Moines, IA. The route passes Jackson Basin, Easter Lake and Easter Lake Beach. It is mostly level, with 132 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Easter Lake–Jackson Basin, 5 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 4 hr 16 min
Elevation 780–873 ft
Out & Back · Easter Lake Park
Trailhead: 41.57631, -93.60975
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Carl Voss Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Carl Voss Trail Service Spur, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Carl Voss Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Jackson Basin.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
- 1.2 miPass Easter Lake.
- 50 ftPass Easter Lake Beach.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Mark C. Ackelson Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easter Lake Spine Trail, heading SE.
- 1.6 miReach Easter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Mark C. Ackelson Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miSharp right onto Carl Voss Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 1.8 miBear right onto Carl Voss Trail Service Spur, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Carl Voss 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 4.4 mi in (~110 min). Leave by 5:03 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Des Moines, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa