Easter Lake Park

Easter Lake–Barb Wire Point Loop, 4 beaches

3.7 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Easter Lake–Barb Wire Point Loop, 4 beaches is a 3.7-mile loop in Easter Lake Park near East Des Moines, IA. The route passes Easter Lake, Easter Lake Beach and Barb Wire Point. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi814 – 856 ft4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mark C. Ackelson Trail 41.54023, -93.55988
Nearest town East Des Moines, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Easter Lake–Barb Wire Point Loop, 4 beaches

3.7 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Elevation 813–856 ft

Loop · Easter Lake Park

Trailhead: Mark C. Ackelson Trail · 41.54023, -93.55988

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mark C. Ackelson Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Easter Lake.
  3. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftReach Easter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  7. 1.1 miPass Easter Lake Beach.
  8. 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  11. 0.8 miPass Barb Wire Point.
  12. 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
  13. 300 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  14. 350 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

84% paved16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead