Pleasant Creek State Park

Pleasant Creek Lake & Pleasant Creek State Park Beach

9.6 mi · ▲ 532 ft · 3 hr 28 min

Pleasant Creek Lake & Pleasant Creek State Park Beach is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Pleasant Creek State Park near Shellsburg, IA. The route passes Pleasant Creek State Park Beach and Pleasant Creek Lake. It climbs 532 ft. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi768 – 925 ft9.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.12825, -91.81600
Nearest town Shellsburg, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pleasant Creek Lake & Pleasant Creek State Park Beach

9.6 mi · ▲ 532 ft · 3 hr 28 min

Elevation 768–926 ft

Out & Back · Pleasant Creek State Park

Trailhead: 42.12825, -91.81600

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Pleasant Creek State Park Beach.
  3. 50 ftPass Pleasant Creek Lake.
  4. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 3.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.8 miReach Pleasant Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
  10. 4.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  12. 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

88% other1% grass1% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:53 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead