AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Helen–Skunk River Trail, 3 sights

9 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Lake Helen–Skunk River Trail, 3 sights is a 9-mile out-and-back near Ontario, IA. The route reaches Lake Helen. It is mostly level, with 160 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi876 – 1,017 ft10.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.02280, -93.67132
Nearest town Ontario, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Helen–Skunk River Trail, 3 sights

9 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Elevation 876–1,016 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.02280, -93.67132

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

Transit-accessible: Lincoln Way at Marshall Avenue Westbound stop 112 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  4. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  14. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  17. 0.5 miPass Lake Helen.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto University Boulevard Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 300 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  23. 1.3 miTurn right onto Skunk River Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.4 miReach Lake Helen, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  26. 1.3 miBear left, heading W.
  27. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  29. 300 ftTurn left onto University Boulevard Trail, heading W.
  30. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  31. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  34. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  37. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  40. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  41. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  43. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  45. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  46. 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-4-sights-14-km

Trail surface

77% paved23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Lincoln Way at Marshall Avenue Westbound stop 112 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ontario, Iowa