AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Riverfront Crossings Park

Eagle Tree & Ralston Creek via Iowa River Corridor Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Eagle Tree & Ralston Creek via Iowa River Corridor Trail is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Riverfront Crossings Park near Iowa City, IA. The route passes Eagle Tree before reaching Ralston Creek at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi630 – 656 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.66137, -91.54029
Nearest town Iowa City, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Eagle Tree & Ralston Creek via Iowa River Corridor Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Elevation 629–657 ft

Out & Back · Riverfront Crossings Park

Trailhead: 41.66137, -91.54029

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:07 PM

Transit-accessible: Iowa Ave - English Philosophy Building, IMU stop 23 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.5 miTurn left onto Iowa River Trail, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  12. 300 ftContinue straight onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading S.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miPass Eagle Tree.
  15. 0.5 miPass Ralston Creek.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 450 ftReach Eagle Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 450 ftSharp left, heading E.
  24. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 100 ftBear left, heading S.
  27. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  28. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  30. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  33. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  34. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 150 ftBear left onto Iowa River Trail, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right onto Hancher Footbridge, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/eagle-tree-ralston-creek-out-back-6-km-4d78

Trail surface

73% paved27% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:53 AMSunset 7:07 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:29 PM — 6 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Iowa Ave - English Philosophy Building, IMU stop 23 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Iowa City, Iowa