Gay Lea Wilson Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Gay Lea Wilson Trail is a 7.9-mile out-and-back near Altoona, IA. It is mostly level, with 83 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gay Lea Wilson Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Elevation 840–921 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 41.64230, -93.47719
Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 67°F / low 61° · precip 85% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading S.
- 3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 3.6 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Gay Lea Wilson Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Copper Creek Lake via Gay Lea Wilson Trail 10.4 mi · ▲ 84 ft
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Hikes near Altoona, Iowa