AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Future via High Trestle Trail

4.3 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Lake Future via High Trestle Trail is a 4.3-mile out-and-back near Ankeny, IA. The route reaches Lake Future at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi922 – 1,001 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73466, -93.60515
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Future via High Trestle Trail

4.3 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 923–1,000 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.73466, -93.60515

Weather Sep 22: Light drizzle, high 58°F / low 55° · precip 22% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 457 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  3. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  8. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  9. 50 ftSharp left onto High Trestle Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right, heading SE.
  12. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  13. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miPass Lake Future.
  15. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  16. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftReach Lake Future, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  20. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.8 miBear right, heading N.
  22. 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  23. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  25. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  31. 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/lake-future-lake-future-out-back-7-km-31d2

Trail surface

38% paved62% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 58°F55°
Precip22%Wind7 mphUV1Humidity94%
Rained 0.3″ 2 days ago (1.6″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 22% rain1 AM: 14% rain2 AM: 11% rain3 AM: 6% rain4 AM: 7% rain5 AM: 9% rain6 AM: 8% rain7 AM: 12% rain8 AM: 11% rain9 AM: 9% rain10 AM: 7% rain11 AM: 8% rain12 PM: 9% rain1 PM: 7% rain2 PM: 8% rain3 PM: 7% rain4 PM: 6% rain5 PM: 3% rain6 PM: 4% rain7 PM: 5% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 3% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:13 PM
Wed 65°50°
Thu 63°55° 21%
Fri 61°58° 35%
Sat 68°59° 62%
Sun 69°57° 28%
Mon 72°59° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 457 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa