Inter-Urban Trail–Lake Loop, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 3 hr 49 min
Inter-Urban Trail–Lake Loop, 6 sights is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Des Moines, IA. It is mostly level, with 114 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Inter-Urban Trail–Lake Loop, 6 sights
11.3 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 3 hr 49 min
Elevation 790–883 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.63320, -93.63808
Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 66°F / low 61° · precip 86% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
Transit-accessible: Euclid Ave & 14th St stop 629 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Neal Smith Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Inter-Urban Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Owl Trail, heading N.
- 1 miBear left onto Sycamore Trail, heading NW.
- 500 ftBear right onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading NW.
- 1.9 miTurn right onto Sycamore Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Low Line, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading NE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Sycamore Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Low Line, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lake Loop, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Low Line, heading E.
- 300 ftReach Inter-Urban Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Lake Loop, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Low Line, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Sycamore Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Lake Loop, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Low Line, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Top Shelf, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading W.
- 1.9 miBear left onto Sycamore Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftBear right onto Owl Trail, heading E.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Trestle to Trestle Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Inter-Urban Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Neal Smith Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
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.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Euclid Ave & 14th St stop 629 m from the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Neal Smith Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Neal Smith Trail 10.5 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Neal Smith Trail 10.5 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Neal Smith Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft
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