AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

North Tailwater

Lake Red Rock–Des Moines River, 3 lakes

5.2 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Lake Red Rock–Des Moines River, 3 lakes is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in North Tailwater near Durham, IA. The route passes Des Moines River, Lake Red Rock - Lake Red Rock Project Beach and Lake Red Rock before reaching Lake Red Rock - Lake Red Rock Project Beach at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 141 ft of elevation gain. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi702 – 820 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Howell Station Prairie Trail 41.36647, -92.97037
Nearest town Durham, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Red Rock–Des Moines River, 3 lakes

5.2 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Elevation 701–821 ft

Out & Back · North Tailwater

Trailhead: Howell Station Prairie Trail · 41.36647, -92.97037

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Howell Station Prairie Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  3. 0.4 miPass Des Moines River.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  7. 0.6 miPass Lake Red Rock - Lake Red Rock Project Beach.
  8. 0.4 miPass Lake Red Rock - Lake Red Rock Project Beach.
  9. 250 ftReach Lake Red Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 1 miBear left, heading S.
  11. 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 0.8 miArrive 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/lake-red-rock-des-moines-river-out-back-4-beaches-8-km-a023

Trail surface

19% dirt3% paved78% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:52 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Durham, Iowa