AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Helen & University Boulevard Trail

3.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Lake Helen & University Boulevard Trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back near Ames, IA. The route reaches Lake Helen. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi892 – 948 ft4.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.00894, -93.60865
Nearest town Ames, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Helen & University Boulevard Trail

3.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 891–948 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.00894, -93.60865

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: South Duff Avenue at South 16th Street Northbound stop 114 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 200 ftBear left, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.7 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 350 ftTurn left onto University Boulevard Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miPass Lake Helen.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftReach Lake Helen, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 300 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  17. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 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-helen-lake-helen-out-back-3-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

96% paved4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: South Duff Avenue at South 16th Street Northbound stop 114 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Ames, Iowa