AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

6.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 3 min

Northwest Lakeshore Drive is a 6.1-mile out-and-back 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 ft7.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.72989, -93.59021
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

6.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 3 min

Elevation 944–993 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: 41.72989, -93.59021

Weather Sep 22: Light drizzle, high 58°F / low 55° · precip 22% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 465 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 400 ftSharp right, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 400 ftBear left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  14. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  23. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  24. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 2.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  33. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  36. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  38. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  40. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  41. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  42. 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/northwest-lakeshore-drive-out-back-10-km-2454

Trail surface

44% paved56% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 58°F55°
Precip22%Wind7 mphUV1Humidity94%
Rained 0.2″ 2 days ago (1.4″ over the last week)
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 22% rain1 AM: 14% rain2 AM: 11% rain3 AM: 6% rain4 AM: 7% rain5 AM: 9% rain6 AM: 8% rain7 AM: 12% rain8 AM: 11% rain9 AM: 9% rain10 AM: 7% rain11 AM: 8% rain12 PM: 9% rain1 PM: 7% rain2 PM: 8% rain3 PM: 7% rain4 PM: 6% rain5 PM: 3% rain6 PM: 4% rain7 PM: 5% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 3% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:02 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:13 PM
Wed 65°50°
Thu 63°55° 21%
Fri 61°59° 35%
Sat 68°59° 62%
Sun 70°57° 28%
Mon 72°59° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 5:41 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 465 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa