AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint & Martin Luther King Junior Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 2 min

John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint & Martin Luther King Junior Trail is a 6.1-mile out-and-back near Des Moines, IA. The route reaches John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi781 – 824 ft6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.58618, -93.61768
Nearest town Des Moines, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint & Martin Luther King Junior Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 2 min

Elevation 780–825 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.58618, -93.61768

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: Grand Ave & 2nd Ave stop 340 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Principal Riverwalk, heading S.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading SE.
  6. 350 ftPass John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint.
  7. 0.1 miBear left onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading E.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading E.
  10. 2.2 miReach John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 2.2 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading W.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.6 miBear right onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Principal Riverwalk, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading W.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading W.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 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/john-pat-dorrian-viewpoint-martin-luther-king-junior-trail-out-back

Trail surface

92% paved3% boardwalk5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Grand Ave & 2nd Ave stop 340 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa