University Lake–Clear Creek Trail, 3 sights
14.9 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 5 hr 9 min
University Lake–Clear Creek Trail, 3 sights is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Clear Creek Greenbelt near Oakdale, IA. The route reaches University Lake at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 360 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
University Lake–Clear Creek Trail, 3 sights
14.9 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 5 hr 9 min
Elevation 658–806 ft
Out & Back · Clear Creek Greenbelt
Trailhead: 41.70423, -91.58769
Weather Sep 22: Light rain, high 63°F / low 53° · precip 49% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:05 PM
Transit-accessible: Oakdale Blvd & 12th Ave stop 41 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Muddy Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto North Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Clear Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 2.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miReach University Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 2.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto North Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Muddy Creek Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 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 1.1 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Oakdale Blvd & 12th Ave stop 41 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Colony Acres & Iowa River Corridor Trail 10 mi · ▲ 189 ft
- Youth Sports Park Pond via Muddy Creek Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 84 ft
- Muddy Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Muddy Creek Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft
- Auburn Hills Trail via Muddy Creek Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 144 ft
- Colony Acres & Youth Sports Park Pond via Muddy Creek Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 139 ft
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Hikes near Oakdale, Iowa