AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lamson Woods State Preserve

Walton Lake–Fairfield Loop (Crow Creek Segment), 4 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Walton Lake–Fairfield Loop (Crow Creek Segment), 4 sights is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Lamson Woods State Preserve near Fairfield, IA. The route reaches Walton Lake at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi686 – 768 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Fairfield Loop (Lamson Woods/Neff Wetlands) 40.99541, -91.94797
Nearest town Fairfield, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Walton Lake–Fairfield Loop (Crow Creek Segment), 4 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Elevation 686–769 ft

Out & Back · Lamson Woods State Preserve

Trailhead: Fairfield Loop (Lamson Woods/Neff Wetlands) · 40.99541, -91.94797

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Fairfield Loop (Lamson Woods/Neff Wetlands), heading SE.
  2. 0.6 miBear left onto Fairfield Loop (Crow Creek Segment), heading NE.
  3. 0.5 miBear right onto Fairfield Loop (Louden Bridge Segment), heading NE.
  4. 0.8 miReach Walton Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.8 miBear left onto Fairfield Loop (Crow Creek Segment), heading S.
  6. 0.5 miBear right onto Fairfield Loop (Lamson Woods/Neff Wetlands), heading SW.
  7. 0.4 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/walton-lake-out-back

Weather

Sunrise 6:54 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Fairfield, Iowa