Swan Lake & Sauk Rail Trail
6.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Swan Lake & Sauk Rail Trail is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in Swan Lake State Park near Carroll, IA. The route reaches Swan Lake at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 193 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Swan Lake & Sauk Rail Trail
6.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 2 hr 24 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 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1 miReach Swan Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3.4 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 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
- Sauk Rail Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Sauk Rail Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft
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Hikes near Carroll, Iowa