Big Creek Lake–Big Creek State Park Beach, 3 beaches
7.3 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Big Creek Lake–Big Creek State Park Beach, 3 beaches is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in Big Creek State Park near Polk City, IA. The route passes Big Creek Lake before reaching Big Creek State Park Beach at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Creek Lake–Big Creek State Park Beach, 3 beaches
7.3 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 878–973 ft
Out & Back · Big Creek State Park
Trailhead: West Jester Park Drive · 41.77853, -93.73886
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left onto Neal Smith Trail, heading N.
- 1.4 miPass Big Creek Lake.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Big Creek State Park Beach.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 200 ftReach Big Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading SE.
- 1.8 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~18 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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