Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 11.4 km / 7.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 51 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 27 min
- River
Moderate Hiking Trails near Des Moines
The directory currently contains 11 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Des Moines. Their average mapped distance is 7.4 km and average recorded ascent is 54 m (177 ft); the longest route in the set is 17.4 km.
This subset represents 15% of the 72 quality-checked routes near Des Moines. Its average distance is 7.4 km, compared with 12.0 km across the full local set.
Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (18%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.
Data refreshed September 2026
Choose by the details
How do these routes differ?
A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.
Shortest mapped distance in this sample
0.6 km
Hog's Back TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
22 m
Hog's Back Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
1 recorded loop
Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.
Plan the return journey →Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.
Trails
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 12.6 km / 7.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 59 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 43 min
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 12.2 km / 7.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 114 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 43 min
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 12.1 km / 7.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 51 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 35 min
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 17.4 km / 10.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 52 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 46 min
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 1.0 km / 0.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 28 m
- Typical duration
- 15 min
- Lake
Moderate
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 8.4 km / 5.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 62 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 51 min
Moderate
The shortlist, side by side
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Creek TrailIowa | 11.4 km | 51 m | 2 hr 27 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Clive Greenbelt TrailIowa | 12.6 km | 59 m | 2 hr 43 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Inter-Urban TrailIowa | 12.2 km | 114 m | 2 hr 43 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Gay Lea Wilson Trail EastIowa | 12.1 km | 51 m | 2 hr 35 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Crow's Nest TrailIowa | 0.7 km | 57 m | 13 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Hog's Back TrailIowa | 0.6 km | 22 m | 9 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Old Indian TrailIowa | 0.5 km | 44 m | 10 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Summerset TrailIowa | 17.4 km | 52 m | 3 hr 46 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Lost Lake Interpretive TrailIowa | 1.0 km | 28 m | 15 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Oralabor Gateway TrailIowa | 8.4 km | 62 m | 1 hr 51 min | Moderate | April to October |
Jordan Creek Trail, Inter-Urban Trail, Gay Lea Wilson Trail East currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Plan with more confidence
All planning articles →Choosing a route
How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →Related guides
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