Big Creek Lake via Neal Smith Trail
9 mi · ▲ 299 ft · 3 hr 9 min
Big Creek Lake via Neal Smith Trail is a 9-mile out-and-back in Big Creek State Park near Polk City, IA. The route reaches Big Creek Lake. It climbs 299 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Creek Lake via Neal Smith Trail
9 mi · ▲ 299 ft · 3 hr 9 min
Elevation 878–973 ft
Out & Back · Big Creek State Park
Trailhead: 41.76401, -93.72202
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Neal Smith Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 2.9 miPass Big Creek Lake.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftReach Big Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 3.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp left, 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 2.4 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Polk City, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Polk City, Iowa