Martin Luther King Junior Trail
2.6 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 56 min
Martin Luther King Junior Trail is a 2.6-mile out-and-back near Des Moines, IA. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Martin Luther King Junior Trail
2.6 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 56 min
Elevation 799–962 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 41.59715, -93.65082
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: University Ave & 24th St stop 376 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Martin Luther King Jr Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Ingersoll Ave Sidepath, heading E.
- 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Trail, heading SW.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:40 PM — 3 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: University Ave & 24th St stop 376 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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