Martin Luther King Junior Trail
4.7 mi · ▲ 119 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Martin Luther King Junior Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back near Des Moines, IA. It is mostly level, with 119 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Martin Luther King Junior Trail
4.7 mi · ▲ 119 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Elevation 784–825 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Martin Luther King Junior Trail · 41.58319, -93.60431
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading E.
- 2.2 miReach Martin Luther King Junior Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Cohen Park Walking Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading W.
- 350 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 2.0 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Martin Luther King Junior Trail Trailhead
- Martin Luther King Junior Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- John Pat Dorrian Viewpoint–Pond for Growth, 3 lakes 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- John Pat Dorrian Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- 2nd Avenue Sidepath 2.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa