The Three Rivers Trail

Humboldt County, Iowa

First Thursday Night Hike Archive

September 3, 2026

September’s hike started along the Three Rivers Trail at Pilot Creek Wildlife Area just over the county line west of Bradgate. We will touch on the Native American history of this area.  We hope to get a glimpse of the birds and butterflies preparing to migrate.  Hikers viewed the awesome power of the 2025 flooding saw  remnants of an oak savanna.  

  • Date: September 3, 2026
  • Time: 6:30 PM
  •  
  • Parking Location: Park in the Pilot Creek Wildlife Area parking lot just south of the intersection of the Three Rivers Trail and 330 Avenue.
  • Estimated Miles: 3 miles
  • Estimated Time: 90 minutes
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:43 am
    • Sunset: 7:48 pm
    • Difference from yesterday: 2 minutes 48 seconds less
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 6:15 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 8:27 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:16 pm (54.5° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Melson Park
    • Chicago and Northwestern Railway
  • Natural History Points of Interest:
    • Typical U-Shaped Glacial Valley
    • Oak Savanna Remnants 
    • Flood damage and deposits

Early Humboldt settlers will be the theme of August’s Unplugged Outdoors at Union Cemetery.  It will last about an hour and cover a little less than 1.5 miles.

  • Date: August 6, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Estimated Miles: A little short of 1.5 miles
  • Estimated Time: an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:13 am
    • Sunset: 8:29 pm
    • Daylight: 14:17:02 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: 2 minutes 20 seconds less
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 5:42 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 9:02 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:22 pm (63.8° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Union Cemetery
    • Early settlers to the area
  • Natural History Points of Interest:
    • Imported headstones
    • Shortening days

July’s Unplugged Outdoors will feature the Rutland Parks at 7 PM.  It will last about an hour and cover a little less than 2 miles. Hikers will hear tidbits of Rutland History including the history of power generation at the Rutland Dam.  With any luck, native berries will be ripe for hikers to identify and sample.

  • Date: July 2, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: Shelter House along the Three Rivers Trail in Rutland, near the corner of Second Street South and First Avenue South.
  • Estimated Miles: A little short of 2 miles
  • Estimated Time: an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 5:43 am
    • Sunset: 8:58 pm
    • Daylight: 15:15:43 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: 43 seconds less
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 5:08 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 9:33 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:21 pm (70.2° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Rutland Dam and Power House
    • Methodist Church
    • Bridge Collapse
  • Natural History Points of Interest:
June’s Unplugged Outdoors was held at the Humboldt County Museum. It covered about a 1 mile plus loop. Hikers strolled the museum grounds and walked over to Dakota City Park to get a good look at the remains of 19th century grist mill.
  • Date: June 4, 2026
  • Miles: 1+ miles round trip
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 5:43 am
    • Sunset: 8:58 pm
    • Daylight: 15:15:43 H:M:S
    • Differnce from yesterday: 43 seconds less
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 5:08 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 9:33 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:21 pm (70.2° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • 19th Century Grist Mill
    • Various sites around museum
  • Natural History Points of Interest:

May’s Unplugged Outdoors will be at Sheldon Park at 7 PM.  It will last about an hour and cover about a 2 mile loop. There’s an uphill climb at the beginning of the hike and a downhill climb at the end. The mid-way point overlooks the high spot along the river. Hikers are asked to park in lower Sheldon Park near the shelter house.  There is no cost and no preregistration required.

  • Date: May 7, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: From Highway 3 drive South on Sheldon Park Road about a quarter mile to the entrance to Lower Sheldon Park. Drive down the hill.  You will see the shelter house on your left.  Park at the shelter house.
  • Estimated Miles: 2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: an hour to an hour and 15 minutes
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:03 am.
    • Sunset:8:24 pm
    • Daylight: 14:20:44 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:21 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 6:28 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 8:55 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:13 pm (64.3° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Farmsted
    • Site of celebrations over the years
  • Natural History Points of Interest:

  • Date: April 16, 2026 (was postponed)
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: Park just inside the Gotch Park entrance along the road going south toward the river.
  • Miles:1.6 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:47 am.
    • Sunset: 7:44 pm
    • Daylight: 12:47:04 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:52 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 6:28 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 8:12 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:20 pm (52.4° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
  • Natural History Points of Interest:

  • Date: March 5, 2026
  • Time: 5:45 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: The parking lot at the Three Rivers Trail Shelter House at the north end of Fifth Street North in Dakota City and along the street.
  • Miles: 2.2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:46 am.
    • Sunset: 6:11 pm
    • Daylight: 11:25:42 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:28 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts:6:17 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 6:39 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:28 pm (41.5° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old CNW Railway
    • Location of Humboldt College
  • Date: February 5, 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: The parking lot at the Three Rivers Trail Shelter House at the north end of Fifth Street North in Dakota City and along the street.
  • Miles: 2.2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 7:26 am.
    • Sunset: 5:35 pm
    • Daylight: 10:08:59 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:28 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts:6:56 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 6:05 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:30 pm (31.6° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old CNW  Railway
    • Caves where the pioneers sheltered during their first winter

Our first hike of 2026 will take place on New Year’s Day.

  • Date: January 1, 2026
  • Time: 4:45 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: Along the Three Rivers Trail, north of Sumner Ave and east of the elevator.
  • Miles: Possible 3.5 miles round trip depending on the weather and the time availability.  We plan to  turn around at the 30 minute mark.  This will make the length closer to 2+ miles.
  • Estimated Time: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 7:47 am, in the East-Southeast (121° from North)
    • Sunset: 4:53 pm, in the West-Southwest (239° from North)
    • Daylight: 9:06:40 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +0:46 more seconds
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 7:15 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 5:25 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:20 pm (24.4° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old M&StL Railway
    • Oakland Cemetery