AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Northwest Lakeshore Drive is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Prairie Ridge Sports Complex near Ankeny, IA. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi961 – 994 ft5.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Northwest Lakeshore Drive 41.73425, -93.60737
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Elevation 962–993 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: Northwest Lakeshore Drive · 41.73425, -93.60737

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 301 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  9. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  10. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading SE.
  28. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  29. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 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-6-km-94df

Trail surface

48% paved52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 301 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Northwest Lakeshore Drive Trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa