Sunset hikes near Fort Bellefontaine, mo

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Spatterdock Lake–Ellis Lake, 3 lakes 3.4 mi away

   Leave by 5:08 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:08 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car8:49 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.9 mi to the viewpoint · 186 min of walking

2. Ellis Lake & West Alton Bike Trail 3.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:24 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:24 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car7:33 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 34 min of walking

3. Bellefontaine Spring 1.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:26 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car7:30 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 29 min of walking

4. Blue Pool–Beaver-Deer-Rock Trail, 3 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:41 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car7:17 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:17 PM — 11 min before dark.

   0.0 mi to the viewpoint · 2 min of walking

5. Beaver-Deer-Rock-Fox Viewpoint–Observation Deck, 6 sights 5.5 mi away

   Be there by 6:41 PM

   1. Be there6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Dark7:28 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

6. Dead chestnut–Observation Deck, 6 sights 5.5 mi away

   Be there by 6:41 PM

   1. Be there6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Dark7:28 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

7. Observation Deck–Blue Pool Loop, 7 sights 5.5 mi away

   Be there by 6:41 PM

   1. Be there6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Dark7:28 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

8. Mississippi Sanctuary/Olin Nature Preserve Viewpoint–Observation Deck Loop, 8 sights 5.5 mi away

   Be there by 6:41 PM

   1. Be there6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Dark7:28 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

9. Beaver Falls–Observation Deck, 3 viewpoints 6.1 mi away

   Be there by 6:41 PM

   1. Be there6:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Dark7:28 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

10. Sunset Viewpoint & Sunset Trail 6.3 mi away

    Leave by 5:23 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:23 PM
    2. Sunset7:02 PM
    3. Head back7:17 PM
    4. At your car8:33 PM
    5. Dark7:28 PM

    Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    3.1 mi to the viewpoint · 110 ft climb · 155 min of walking

11. F.E. Widman Trail 6.8 mi away

    Leave by 6:34 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:34 PM
    2. Sunset7:01 PM
    3. Head back7:16 PM
    4. At your car7:24 PM
    5. Dark7:28 PM

    Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 4 min before dark.

    0.3 mi to the viewpoint · 15 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

12. Mississippi & Missouri River Confluence Point & Ted & Pat Jones Trail 6.5 mi away

    Leave by 6:07 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:07 PM
    2. Sunset7:01 PM
    3. Head back7:16 PM
    4. At your car7:50 PM
    5. Dark7:28 PM

    Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.4 mi to the viewpoint · 68 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint