AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pine Lake State Park

Pine Lake–Upper Pine Lake, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 181 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Pine Lake–Upper Pine Lake, 4 lakes is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Pine Lake State Park near Eldora, IA. The route passes Pine Lake Beach and Pine Lake before reaching Upper Pine Lake at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 181 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi958 – 1,034 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.37142, -93.08019
Nearest town Eldora, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pine Lake–Upper Pine Lake, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 181 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Elevation 959–1,034 ft

Out & Back · Pine Lake State Park

Trailhead: 42.37142, -93.08019

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Pine Lake Beach.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Hogsback Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left onto Pine Lake Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftPass Pine Lake.
  6. 1.1 miPass Upper Pine Lake.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftReach Pine Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  11. 1.3 miTurn right onto Hogsback Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  13. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/pine-lake-upper-pine-lake-out-back-4-lakes-5-km-8ba1

Trail surface

21% gravel79% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Hikes near Eldora, Iowa