Pond for Growth–Pond for Prosperity, 4 lakes
5 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Pond for Growth–Pond for Prosperity, 4 lakes is a 5-mile out-and-back near Des Moines, IA. The route passes Raun Reflection Garden, Pond for Growth and Pond for Prosperity. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pond for Growth–Pond for Prosperity, 4 lakes
5 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Elevation 780–872 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 41.60052, -93.60898
Weather Sep 21: Drizzle, high 62°F / low 58° · precip 41% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Transit-accessible: E 14th St & E University Ave stop 704 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Neal Smith Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miPass Raun Reflection Garden.
- 450 ftPass Pond for Growth.
- 50 ftPass Pond for Prosperity.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Principal Riverwalk, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto 2nd Avenue Sidepath, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Meredith Trail Service Spur, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 2nd Avenue Sidepath, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 2nd Avenue Sidepath, heading S.
- 0.5 miReach Pond for Growth, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 2nd Avenue Sidepath, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Meredith Trail Service Spur, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 2nd Avenue Sidepath, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Martin Luther King Junior Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Meredith Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto Principal Riverwalk, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Meredith Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Principal Riverwalk, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto John Pat Dorrian Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:55 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:15 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:43 PM.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: E 14th St & E University Ave stop 704 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Crocker Woods–Riverview Lake, 3 lakes 4.3 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Pond for Growth–Pond for Prosperity, 5 lakes 2.9 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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