AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

4.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Northwest Lakeshore Drive is a 4.2-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 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73466, -93.60515
Nearest town Ankeny, IA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lakeshore Drive

4.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Elevation 962–993 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Ridge Sports Complex

Trailhead: 41.73466, -93.60515

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

Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 457 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. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  3. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 300 ftSharp right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 350 ftBear left onto Northwest Lakeshore Drive, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  11. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 500 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  19. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  20. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 1.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  26. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  27. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  28. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  30. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  33. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  35. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  36. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  37. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  38. 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-b916

Trail surface

47% paved53% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hawkeye Park & Ride stop 457 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ankeny, Iowa