Lake Trail & Preserve Trail
9.1 mi · ▲ 210 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Lake Trail & Preserve Trail is a 9.1-mile out-and-back in Brushy Creek State Preserve near Homer, IA. It is mostly level, with 210 ft of elevation gain. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Trail & Preserve Trail
9.1 mi · ▲ 210 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Elevation 968–1,098 ft
Out & Back · Brushy Creek State Preserve
Trailhead: Hackberry Trail · 42.36892, -93.98338
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:19 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Hackberry Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Clay Hill Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftBear right onto Shortcut Hill, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Preserve Trail, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Lake Trail, heading W.
- 2.8 miReach Preserve Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn right onto Preserve Trail, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Shortcut Hill, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Clay Hill Trail, heading W.
- 400 ftSharp right onto Hackberry Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 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 2.8 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Hackberry Trail Trailhead
- Lake Trail & Meadow Trail via Preserve Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 253 ft
- Bridge Trail via Clay Hill Trail 2 mi · ▲ 174 ft
- Brushy Creek–Meadow Trail, 3 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 318 ft
- Clay Hill Trail–Lake Trail, 4 sights 5.4 mi · ▲ 288 ft
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Hikes near Homer, Iowa