James A. Reed Wildlife Area

Gopher Lake–Catclaw Lake, 11 lakes

6.5 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Gopher Lake–Catclaw Lake, 11 lakes is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in James A. Reed Wildlife Area near Greenwood, MO. The route passes Pool 2, Jackrabbit Lake, Catclaw Lake and 9 more. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi938 – 1,017 ft6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.89073, -94.32141
Nearest town Greenwood, MO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gopher Lake–Catclaw Lake, 11 lakes

6.5 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Elevation 938–1,017 ft

Out & Back · James A. Reed Wildlife Area

Trailhead: 38.89073, -94.32141

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:19 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Pool 2.
  3. 50 ftPass Jackrabbit Lake.
  4. 0.1 miPass Catclaw Lake.
  5. 250 ftPass Pool 5.
  6. 0.6 miPass Pool 6.
  7. 50 ftPass Pool 7.
  8. 50 ftPass Cottontail Lake.
  9. 0.3 miPass Gopher Lake.
  10. 50 ftPass Pool 7.
  11. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 200 ftPass Bodarc Lake.
  14. 0.5 miPass Bluestem Lake.
  15. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 0.2 miPass Coot Lake.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 200 ftReach Gopher Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  27. 0.6 miBear right, heading E.
  28. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  29. 1.4 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

58% grass36% dirt4% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:19 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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