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Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 485 Google reviews · Running trail in Carlisle, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park with ponds and trails good for hiking, biking and kayaking.
What runners say about Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
“Banner Lakes is a peaceful and scenic place to visit.”
“It was very quiet, besides the shooting range, but would be a great place to hike, bike, or fish!”
Another hidden gem Iowa National Park. Great place to rise your bike, fish ,hike, and just enjoy being out of the way. Plan to not be in a hurry when you come here. Great scenery and always something to see.
Nice little park. Popular fishing lake, water was clear to 3ft. Would be fun to canoe or kayak. There are a few trails to hike. There are trail maps by the trailhead signs. No campground :(
Amazing park with really fun trails! The gunshots from the shooting range on the park grounds can kill the vibe a bit, but it won't stop me from visiting frequently.
These singletrack MTB trails are absolutely within the top 3 that I've personally ridden around the world and, so far, they're #1 in Iowa for me. There are some great trails in Iowa but these are the most challenging (and I've been riding MTB since 2009). Lots of very tight, technical lines with a lot of switchbacks.
Trail conditions & character
“It was very quiet, besides the shooting range, but would be a great place to hike, bike, or fish!”
“Banner Lakes is a peaceful and scenic place to visit.”
“It's not really a straight walk in some parts so if ya have troubles with hills this might not be for you.”
“The trails are not paved but they do circle back a few times close to the main road, which is handy if you have small kids or doggos!”
“These singletrack MTB trails are absolutely within the top 3 that I've personally ridden around the world and, so far, they're #1 in Iowa for me.”
“There are trail maps by the trailhead signs.”
“Parts of the trail are boardwalk with no railing over the lake.”
Plan your run at Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websiteiowadnr.gov
- Phone+1 515-961-7101
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 4 am–10:30 pm |
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