Neal Smith Trail
10.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 34 min
Neal Smith Trail is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Saylorville Lake Project near Des Moines, IA. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Neal Smith Trail
10.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 34 min
Elevation 793–883 ft
Out & Back · Saylorville Lake Project
Trailhead: 41.63320, -93.63808
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Euclid Ave & 14th St stop 629 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 400 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Neal Smith Trail, heading N.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 2.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Low Line, heading W.
- 350 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Neal Smith Trail, heading E.
- 4.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 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 6:55 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:15 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:43 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
- Inter-Urban Trail–Lake Loop, 6 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 114 ft
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Hikes near Des Moines, Iowa