AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive Loop

4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Northwest Lakeshore Drive Loop is a 4.7-mile loop in Prairie Ridge Sports Complex near Ankeny, IA. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi945 – 994 ft6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73472, -93.60109
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive Loop

4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 944–993 ft

Loop · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: 41.73472, -93.60109

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

Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 750 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 400 ftSharp right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 350 ftBear left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading N.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  17. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  20. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  22. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  24. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  25. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  27. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  28. 2.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  35. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  38. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  39. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  40. 50 ftThe loop closes 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/northwest-lakeshore-drive-loop-8-km-f8bb

Trail surface

38% paved62% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 750 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa