John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint–Birdland Lagoon, 7 lakes
9.6 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 3 hr 15 min
John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint–Birdland Lagoon, 7 lakes is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Birdland Park near Des Moines, IA. The route passes Birdland Lagoon, Raun Reflection Garden, Pond for Growth and 2 more. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint–Birdland Lagoon, 7 lakes
9.6 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Elevation 784–844 ft
Out & Back · Birdland Park
Trailhead: 41.61393, -93.61307
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Transit-accessible: E Grand Ave & Robert D Ray Dr stop 348 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Birdland Lagoon.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Birdland Park Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Neal Smith Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Raun Reflection Garden.
- 450 ftPass Pond for Growth.
- 50 ftPass Pond for Prosperity.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading SW.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading E.
- 2.2 miReach John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear right onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Neal Smith Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Birdland Park Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 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 4.4 mi in (~109 min). Leave by 5:05 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: E Grand Ave & Robert D Ray Dr stop 348 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Birdland Lagoon–Pond for Growth, 5 lakes 5.6 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint–Birdland Lagoon, 6 lakes 3.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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