AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Gay Lea Wilson Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Gay Lea Wilson Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back near Ankeny, IA. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi915 – 968 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73331, -93.58163
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gay Lea Wilson Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Elevation 916–969 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.73331, -93.58163

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 382 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 1.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  7. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  9. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 150 ftTurn right onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading W.
  20. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  22. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  28. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  30. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 300 ftSharp right, heading W.
  35. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  36. 1.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  39. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/gay-lea-wilson-trail-out-back-7-km-c4ea

Trail surface

17% paved83% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 382 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa