AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sac and Fox Trail City Park

Prairie Park Fishery–Ephemeral Pond, 4 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Prairie Park Fishery–Ephemeral Pond, 4 sights is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Sac and Fox Trail City Park near Vernon View, IA. The route passes Ephemeral Pond before reaching Prairie Park Fishery at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 738 ft9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Birch 41.98764, -91.57872
Nearest town Vernon View, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Prairie Park Fishery–Ephemeral Pond, 4 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Elevation 698–740 ft

Out & Back · Sac and Fox Trail City Park

Trailhead: Birch · 41.98764, -91.57872

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:09 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Birch, heading SE.
  2. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading S.
  3. 200 ftContinue straight onto Maple, heading W.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Maple, heading S.
  6. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading W.
  7. 450 ftBear left onto Maple, heading W.
  8. 250 ftBear right onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miPass Ephemeral Pond.
  10. 450 ftBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Ash, heading W.
  12. 150 ftBear right onto Post derecho Reroute of Ash, heading W.
  13. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  14. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading SW.
  15. 1.4 miBear right onto Angler's Eyelet, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  17. 500 ftBear left, heading W.
  18. 0.2 miReach Prairie Park Fishery, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  20. 0.2 miBear left onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading E.
  21. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 2 miBear right onto Post derecho Reroute of Ash, heading NE.
  23. 100 ftBear left onto Ash, heading NE.
  24. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading NE.
  25. 500 ftBear left, heading NE.
  26. 0.3 miBear left onto Maple, heading E.
  27. 250 ftBear right onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading E.
  28. 500 ftContinue straight onto Maple, heading NW.
  29. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.3 miBear right onto Maple, heading N.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sac & Fox Trail, heading N.
  32. 200 ftContinue straight onto Birch, heading N.
  33. 0.8 miArrive 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/prairie-park-fishery-ephemeral-pond-out-back-5-lakes-16-km-67c5

Trail surface

30% dirt4% gravel66% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:09 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Birch Trailhead

Hikes near Vernon View, Iowa