AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elwood the Gnome–Lake Helen, 3 sights

5 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elwood the Gnome–Lake Helen, 3 sights is a 5-mile out-and-back near Ames, IA. The route passes Lake Helen and Elwood the Gnome before reaching Lake Helen at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi876 – 935 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Skunk River Trail 42.00535, -93.59772
Nearest town Ames, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elwood the Gnome–Lake Helen, 3 sights

5 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 876–936 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Skunk River Trail · 42.00535, -93.59772

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Skunk River Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 1.3 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 500 ftPass Lake Helen.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miPass Lake Helen.
  14. 500 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftReach Elwood the Gnome, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  20. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  26. 1.5 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/elwood-the-gnome-lake-helen-out-back-4-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

93% paved7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Skunk River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ames, Iowa