Lake Red Rock & Des Moines River via Howell Station Prairie Trail
9.4 mi · ▲ 243 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Lake Red Rock & Des Moines River via Howell Station Prairie Trail is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in South Tailwater near Pella, IA. The route passes Des Moines River before reaching Lake Red Rock at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 243 ft of elevation gain. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Red Rock & Des Moines River via Howell Station Prairie Trail
9.4 mi · ▲ 243 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Elevation 691–867 ft
Out & Back · South Tailwater
Trailhead: 41.40021, -92.92475
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:14 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 3.3 miTurn left onto Howell Station Prairie Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miPass Des Moines River.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftReach Lake Red Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 3.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Howell Station Prairie Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 216 ft
- Howell Station Prairie Trail 7.7 mi · ▲ 216 ft
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