Alcove Spring Historic Park
Nature preserve
202 acres9 mi of trail
Oregon Trail Overlook LoopKit Carson LoopFreemont LoopDonner Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Alcove Spring (Boundary Increase) · Photo: PowercatPark · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Elm Creek Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Elm Creek Township
The biggest trail networks: Alcove Spring Historic Park (9 mi). 11 miles of mapped trail cross Elm Creek Township, 0.3 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
under 1%
0 acres · of 35.6 sq mi of land
Trails
11 mi
0.3 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
2
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Alcove Spring Historic Park, with 9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Things to do
1 places to go in Elm Creek Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Scenic views in Elm Creek Township
Alcove SpringIn Alcove Spring Historic Park
DirectionsTrails & water
12 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 8.6 miUnpaved · 9.0 mi
Oregon Trail Overlook Loop1.7 mi
Kit Carson Loop1.1 mi
Freemont Loop1.1 mi
Donner Trail0.8 mi
Historic Trail0.7 mi
Homestead Trail0.7 mi
Creek Trail0.6 mi
Connector0.5 mi
North Gate to Overlook0.4 mi
Cedar Grove0.3 mi
2 more trails
Wagon Swales Bypass
0.2 miJere's Lookout
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
When to get out
April is the best month for walking in Elm Creek Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 43 | 55 | 65 | 75 | 85 | 89 | 87 | 80 | 68 | 53 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 |
January is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 4.9 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Elm Creek Township →
Next door
Elm Creek Township and its neighbors
Elm Creek Township has the most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Marysville Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Blue Rapids City Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Elm Creek Township
Where can I hike in Elm Creek Township?
The longest trail networks: Alcove Spring Historic Park, 9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Elm Creek Township’s trails?
Alcove Spring Historic Park doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Elm Creek Township?
4,092 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Elm Creek Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), almost none of it inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Elm Creek Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →