AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

High Trestle Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 33 min

High Trestle Trail is a 4.6-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 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73275, -93.57995
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

High Trestle Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 33 min

Elevation 916–969 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.73275, -93.57995

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

Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 517 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 1.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  8. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  14. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  20. 100 ftTurn left onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading W.
  21. 200 ftContinue straight onto High Trestle Trail, heading W.
  22. 200 ftContinue straight onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading W.
  23. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto High Trestle Trail, heading W.
  25. 200 ftContinue straight onto Gay Lea Wilson Trail, heading W.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  27. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  35. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  39. 350 ftSharp right, heading N.
  40. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  41. 1.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  43. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  44. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 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/high-trestle-trail-out-back-7-km-69a5

Trail surface

16% paved84% 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 517 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa