AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Jackson Basin via Carl Voss Trail

5.2 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Jackson Basin via Carl Voss Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back near East Des Moines, IA. The route reaches Jackson Basin at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi781 – 846 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.56267, -93.56669
Nearest town East Des Moines, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Jackson Basin via Carl Voss Trail

5.2 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Elevation 780–845 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.56267, -93.56669

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 350 ftSharp left onto Carl Voss Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 1.6 miReach Jackson Basin, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 1.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
  9. 0.6 miSharp 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/jackson-basin-jackson-basin-out-back-8-km

Trail surface

72% paved28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near East Des Moines, Iowa