Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
John & Alice Butler Trail & Mesquakie Trail via Calcite Trail
2.8 mi · ▲ 262 ft · 1 hr 4 min
John & Alice Butler Trail & Mesquakie Trail via Calcite Trail is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near South Switch Junction, IA. It climbs 262 ft. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
John & Alice Butler Trail & Mesquakie Trail via Calcite Trail
2.8 mi · ▲ 262 ft · 1 hr 4 min
Elevation 598–801 ft
Out & Back · Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Calcite Trail · 42.46650, -90.64696
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:05 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mines of Spain Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Calcite Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Mesquakie Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Lead Mine Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto 2, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading NW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftReach Mesquakie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear left onto John & Alice Butler Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto America's State Tree Woodland Walk, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto 2, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Lead Mine Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Mesquakie Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Calcite Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Mines of Spain Road, heading NE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Calcite Trail Trailhead
- Mesquakie Trail & Pine Chapel Trail via Calcite Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 243 ft
- America's State Tree Woodland Walk–John & Alice Butler Trail, 3 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 328 ft
- Calcite Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 154 ft
- Observation Deck & Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail via Calcite Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 342 ft
- Calcite Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 281 ft
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Hikes near South Switch Junction, Iowa