AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Kettlestone Commons Pond–Tallgrass Pond, 3 lakes

6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 16 min

Kettlestone Commons Pond–Tallgrass Pond, 3 lakes is a 6.7-mile out-and-back near Midwest Country Estates, IA. The route passes Tallgrass Pond and Kettlestone Commons Pond. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,017 – 1,050 ft7.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.58280, -93.85673
Nearest town Midwest Country Estates, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Kettlestone Commons Pond–Tallgrass Pond, 3 lakes

6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 16 min

Elevation 1,016–1,048 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.58280, -93.85673

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:18 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftPass Tallgrass Pond.
  3. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  4. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miPass Kettlestone Commons Pond.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  13. 450 ftContinue straight onto Heart of the Warrior Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 0.6 miReach Kettlestone Commons Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 0.9 miSharp right, heading E.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  28. 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
  29. 400 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/kettlestone-commons-pond-out-back

Trail surface

27% paved73% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:58 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:18 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:46 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Midwest Country Estates, Iowa