Ralston Creek Loop via Iowa River Corridor Trail
5.1 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Ralston Creek Loop via Iowa River Corridor Trail is a 5.1-mile loop in Riverfront Crossings Park near University Heights, IA. The route reaches Ralston Creek. It is mostly level, with 83 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ralston Creek Loop via Iowa River Corridor Trail
5.1 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Elevation 625–744 ft
Loop · Riverfront Crossings Park
Trailhead: 41.64050, -91.56076
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Transit-accessible: Sunset St @ Highway 1 Trail stop 248 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Highway 1 Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Ralston Creek.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miThe loop closes 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 2.5 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Sunset St @ Highway 1 Trail stop 248 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sycamore Greenway Trail 8.1 mi · ▲ 221 ft
- Sycamore Greenway Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 249 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 6.5 mi · ▲ 223 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 250 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 223 ft
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Hikes near University Heights, Iowa