AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Riverfront Crossings Park

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 4 lakes

5.9 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 4 lakes is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Riverfront Crossings Park near University Heights, IA. The route passes Eagle Tree and Ralston Creek before reaching Sand Lake at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi630 – 725 ft7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: UIowa Finkbine Trail 41.66169, -91.55592
Nearest town University Heights, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 4 lakes

5.9 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr

Elevation 629–724 ft

Out & Back · Riverfront Crossings Park

Trailhead: UIowa Finkbine Trail · 41.66169, -91.55592

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:05 PM

Transit-accessible: Arena East stop 68 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  9. 400 ftTurn right onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miPass Eagle Tree.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 50 ftPass Ralston Creek.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  15. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 1.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  19. 400 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftReach Sand Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  23. 400 ftSharp right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  25. 1.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  26. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  29. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  30. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  37. 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
  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/sand-lake-eagle-tree-out-back-4-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

81% paved19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:54 AMSunset 7:05 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Arena East stop 68 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from UIowa Finkbine Trail Trailhead

Hikes near University Heights, Iowa