AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

6.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 4 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 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi925 – 994 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73203, -93.58084
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

6.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 4 min

Elevation 924–993 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: 41.73203, -93.58084

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Mercy North Park & Ride stop 451 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  4. 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 350 ftSharp right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 400 ftBear left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  22. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  24. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  25. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  28. 2.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  35. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  38. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  41. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  42. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  43. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  44. 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-dde3

Trail surface

45% paved55% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 5:39 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 451 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa