Barred Owl Trail

Barred Owl Trail is a short, easy hike in Backbone State Park in Iowa, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 0.86 miles, with a total climb of about 224 feet. The steepest part comes at about 0.34 miles in, where the grade reaches 15 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Manchester put May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days. Several other trails sit close by, including the Barred Owl hike at about 0.4 miles and the Ryan Property Equestrian and Backbone Forest Trails at about 0.8 miles. Climbers can find Backbone State Park's climbing areas about 1.1 miles away.