AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

James A. Reed Wildlife Area

Gopher Lake–Cottontail Lake, 5 lakes

7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Gopher Lake–Cottontail Lake, 5 lakes is a 7-mile out-and-back in James A. Reed Wildlife Area near Greenwood, MO. The route passes Pool 7, Cottontail Lake, Gopher Lake and 3 more. It is mostly level, with 137 ft of elevation gain. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi938 – 1,034 ft7.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.88269, -94.31901
Nearest town Greenwood, MO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gopher Lake–Cottontail Lake, 5 lakes

7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 938–1,034 ft

Out & Back · James A. Reed Wildlife Area

Trailhead: 38.88269, -94.31901

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:18 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Pool 7.
  3. 50 ftPass Cottontail Lake.
  4. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftPass Gopher Lake.
  8. 0.3 miPass Gopher Lake.
  9. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  11. 250 ftPass Bodarc Lake.
  12. 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.9 miSharp left, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  18. 0.5 miPass Prairie Hollow Lake.
  19. 0.3 miReach Gopher Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.9 miBear left, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  22. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  23. 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
  24. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  25. 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  30. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  31. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/gopher-lake-cottontail-lake-out-back-9-lakes

Trail surface

52% grass45% dirt3% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Greenwood, Missouri