MacRae Park

EMC Overlook & MacRae Park Pond via Meredith Trail

1.9 mi · ▲ 165 ft · 43 min

EMC Overlook & MacRae Park Pond via Meredith Trail is a 1.9-mile out-and-back in MacRae Park near Des Moines, IA. The route passes MacRae Park Pond before reaching EMC Overlook at the turnaround, 0.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 165 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi797 – 925 ft3.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.57819, -93.61254
Nearest town Des Moines, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

EMC Overlook & MacRae Park Pond via Meredith Trail

1.9 mi · ▲ 165 ft · 43 min

Elevation 798–924 ft

Out & Back · MacRae Park

Trailhead: 41.57819, -93.61254

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: W MLK Jr Pkwy & SW 2nd St stop 609 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 150 ftBear left onto Meredith Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.7 miTurn left onto MacRae Park Trail, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftPass MacRae Park Pond.
  5. 100 ftPass EMC Overlook.
  6. 0.3 miReach EMC Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  10. 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

48% paved52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:36 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: W MLK Jr Pkwy & SW 2nd St stop 609 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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