Lake Petocka via Chichaqua Valley Trail

8.8 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Lake Petocka via Chichaqua Valley Trail is an 8.8-mile out-and-back near Santiago, IA. The route reaches Lake Petocka at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi837 – 974 ft9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.71004, -93.37575
Nearest town Santiago, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Petocka via Chichaqua Valley Trail

8.8 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Elevation 837–974 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.71004, -93.37575

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.1 miSharp left onto Chichaqua Valley Trail, heading S.
  3. 4.2 miPass Lake Petocka.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  7. 300 ftReach Lake Petocka, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 4.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  12. 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

94% paved6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.9 mi in (~99 min). Leave by 5:17 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby