AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Northwest Lakeshore Drive is a 4.6-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 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73246, -93.60099
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Elevation 962–993 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: 41.73246, -93.60099

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 696 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 300 ftSharp right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  11. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  14. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  17. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  21. 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  25. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  27. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  29. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading S.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  37. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  38. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  40. 400 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  41. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  43. 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-7-km-3b97

Trail surface

48% paved52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 696 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa