AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hillsdale Recreation Area

Hillsdale Lake & Windsurfer Beach via Red Trail

5.3 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Hillsdale Lake & Windsurfer Beach via Red Trail is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Hillsdale Recreation Area near Hillsdale, KS. The route passes Windsurfer Beach before reaching Hillsdale Lake at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 163 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi876 – 1,050 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.67087, -94.89609
Nearest town Hillsdale, KS
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hillsdale Lake & Windsurfer Beach via Red Trail

5.3 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 876–1,050 ft

Out & Back · Hillsdale Recreation Area

Trailhead: 38.67087, -94.89609

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Windsurfer Beach.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Trail and Blue Camp Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue Camp Trail, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 400 ftTurn left onto Red Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Connector, heading E.
  9. 450 ftBear right onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  10. 1.8 miReach Hillsdale Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.8 miBear left onto Connector, heading E.
  12. 450 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Camp Trail, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Red Trail and Blue Camp Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 0.1 miArrive 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/hillsdale-lake-windsurfer-beach-out-back

Trail surface

92% dirt8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Hillsdale, Kansas