AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Gray's Lake Park

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 5 sights

1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 38 min

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 5 sights is a 1.9-mile out-and-back in Gray's Lake Park near Des Moines, IA. The route passes Gray's Lake, Gray's Lake Park Beach, Gray's Lake Park Beach and Gray's Lake Open Space. 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 mi784 – 807 ft2.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: John R. Grubb Lane 41.57039, -93.63061
Nearest town Des Moines, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gray's Lake Open Space–Gray's Lake, 5 sights

1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 38 min

Elevation 783–808 ft

Out & Back · Gray's Lake Park

Trailhead: John R. Grubb Lane · 41.57039, -93.63061

Weather Sep 20: Rain, high 67°F / low 62° · precip 91% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: SW 9th St & Dart Way (Far-Side) stop 766 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on John R. Grubb Lane, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Gray's Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Gray's Lake Park Beach.
  4. 200 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading N.
  5. 300 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading NW.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading NW.
  7. 350 ftPass Gray's Lake Park Beach.
  8. 100 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading NW.
  9. 100 ftPass Gray's Lake Open Space.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Chris and Marcie Coleman Bridge, heading W.
  11. 450 ftContinue straight onto Gray's Station Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.7 miReach Gray's Lake Open Space, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Chris and Marcie Coleman Bridge, heading W.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading SW.
  16. 100 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading S.
  17. 400 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading S.
  18. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kruidenier Trail, heading S.
  19. 350 ftContinue straight onto John R. Grubb Lane, heading E.
  20. 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/grays-lake-open-space-grays-lake-out-back-7-beaches-3-km

Trail surface

79% paved21% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 67°F62°
Precip91%Wind11 mphUV1Humidity92%
Rained 1.4″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°55° 12 AM: 31% rain1 AM: 73% rain2 AM: 91% rain3 AM: 85% rain4 AM: 47% rain5 AM: 17% rain6 AM: 15% rain7 AM: 14% rain8 AM: 10% rain9 AM: 8% rain10 AM: 10% rain11 AM: 6% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 1% rain2 PM: 1% rain3 PM: 5% rain4 PM: 8% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 2% rain7 PM: 7% rain8 PM: 12% rain9 PM: 10% rain10 PM: 7% rain11 PM: 12% rain
Sunrise 7:01 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:17 PM
Mon 61°57° 42%
Tue 60°53° 19%
Wed 68°47°
Thu 58°55°
Fri 60°57° 23%
Sat 75°59° 37%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:57 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:17 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:45 PM.

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Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: SW 9th St & Dart Way (Far-Side) stop 766 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from John R. Grubb Lane Trailhead

Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa