AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Gray's Lake Park

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 6 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 6 sights is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Gray's Lake Park near Des Moines, IA. The route passes Gray's Lake Park Beach, Gray's Lake Open Space, Gray's Lake and Gray's Lake Park Beach. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi784 – 853 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.58338, -93.64105
Nearest town Des Moines, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 6 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Elevation 784–852 ft

Out & Back · Gray's Lake Park

Trailhead: 41.58338, -93.64105

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: Ingersoll Ave & 18th St stop 250 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Meredith Trail Service Spur, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miPass Gray's Lake Park Beach.
  4. 50 ftPass Gray's Lake Open Space.
  5. 250 ftSharp right onto Kruidenier Trail, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftSharp left onto Meredith Trail, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftPass Gray's Lake.
  8. 250 ftBear right onto Kruidenier Trail, heading SE.
  9. 350 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  10. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading SE.
  11. 150 ftPass Gray's Lake Park Beach.
  12. 250 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading E.
  14. 100 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  15. 350 ftBear left onto Gray's Station Trail, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  18. 100 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading E.
  19. 400 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  20. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading SE.
  21. 350 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  22. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Meredith to Bill Riley Trail, heading E.
  25. 450 ftTurn left onto Pomerantz Family Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.6 miReach Gray's Lake Open Space, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 0.6 miTurn right onto Meredith to Bill Riley Trail, heading E.
  28. 450 ftContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading NE.
  29. 0.2 miBear left onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading NE.
  30. 200 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  31. 350 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading N.
  32. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading N.
  33. 400 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading N.
  34. 100 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  35. 150 ftBear left onto Gray's Station Trail, heading E.
  36. 50 ftBear right onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  37. 400 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  40. 400 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  41. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading E.
  42. 350 ftBear left onto Meredith Trail, heading N.
  43. 250 ftSharp right onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NE.
  44. 50 ftSharp left onto Meredith Trail, heading NE.
  45. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail Service Spur, heading W.
  46. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/grays-lake-open-space-grays-lake-out-back-10-beaches-7-km

Trail surface

78% paved22% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Ingersoll Ave & 18th St stop 250 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa