Big Creek State Park

Big Creek Lake

2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 42 min

Big Creek Lake is a 2-mile out-and-back in Big Creek State Park near Sheldahl, IA. The route reaches Big Creek Lake. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi922 – 997 ft2.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.83461, -93.74330
Nearest town Sheldahl, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Creek Lake

2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 42 min

Elevation 921–997 ft

Out & Back · Big Creek State Park

Trailhead: 41.83461, -93.74330

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miPass Big Creek Lake.
  3. 0.6 miReach Big Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:56 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:16 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:44 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead