AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Forest Park

Post-Dispatch Lake–Emerson Grand Basin, 5 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Post-Dispatch Lake–Emerson Grand Basin, 5 lakes is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Forest Park near De Baliviere, MO. The route passes Deer Lake, Post-Dispatch Lake, Emerson Grand Basin and Cascades and Flegel Falls. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi466 – 492 ft6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Heels Path 38.64455, -90.28037
Nearest town De Baliviere, MO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Post-Dispatch Lake–Emerson Grand Basin, 5 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 465–491 ft

Out & Back · Forest Park

Trailhead: Heels Path · 38.64455, -90.28037

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:50 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Transit-accessible: Pershing at Belt Eastbound stop 395 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead

  1. Start on Heels Path, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Deer Lake.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Wheels Path, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miPass Post-Dispatch Lake.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miPass Emerson Grand Basin.
  9. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  10. 500 ftBear left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miPass Cascades and Flegel Falls.
  13. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  16. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading NW.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading N.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading NE.
  21. 100 ftContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading NE.
  22. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading E.
  23. 50 ftReach Post-Dispatch Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading E.
  25. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading E.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading E.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading NE.
  28. 150 ftContinue straight onto Heels Path, heading NE.
  29. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wheels Path, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  31. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  32. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  36. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  37. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  38. 500 ftSharp right, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  40. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  41. 0.8 miTurn right onto Heels Path, heading E.
  42. 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/post-dispatch-lake-emerson-grand-basin-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

50% paved44% gravel6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:50 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:21 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Pershing at Belt Eastbound stop 395 m from the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead

Hikes near De Baliviere, Missouri