Sauk Rail Trail
4.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Sauk Rail Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Swan Lake State Park near Carroll, IA. It is mostly level, with 193 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,224 – 1,326 ft5.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 42.06066, -94.87459
Nearest town Carroll, IA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sauk Rail Trail
4.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Elevation 1,223–1,326 ft
Out & Back · Swan Lake State Park
Trailhead: 42.06066, -94.87459
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Sauk Rail Trail, heading S.
- 2.3 miReach Sauk Rail Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 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
95% paved5% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Sauk Rail Trail 3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sauk Rail Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Swan Lake & Sauk Rail Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft
- Sauk Rail Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Carroll, Iowa