Lake Colechester via Great Western Trail

13 mi · ▲ 228 ft · 4 hr 27 min

Lake Colechester via Great Western Trail is a 13-mile out-and-back near Millman, IA. The route reaches Lake Colechester at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 228 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi817 – 955 ft13.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Great Western Trail 41.55661, -93.67708
Nearest town Millman, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Colechester via Great Western Trail

13 mi · ▲ 228 ft · 4 hr 27 min

Elevation 817–956 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Great Western Trail · 41.55661, -93.67708

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Great Western Trail, heading SW.
  2. 4.6 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 2 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 150 ftReach Lake Colechester, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  6. 2 miBear right, heading N.
  7. 4.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

62% paved38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~89 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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