AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

City Park

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 5 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in City Park near Iowa City, IA. The route passes Eagle Tree and Ralston Creek before reaching Sand Lake at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi630 – 659 ft8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: City Park Roads 41.67677, -91.53838
Nearest town Iowa City, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Lake–Eagle Tree, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Elevation 629–658 ft

Out & Back · City Park

Trailhead: City Park Roads · 41.67677, -91.53838

Weather Sep 22: Rain, high 62°F / low 53° · precip 48% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:05 PM

Transit-accessible: Foster Rd @ Laura Dr stop 492 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Iowa River Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto City Park Roads, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miBear right onto Iowa River Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto City Park Roads, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Iowa River Trail, heading SE.
  6. 150 ftBear left onto City Park Roads, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Iowa River Trail, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto City Park Roads, heading SE.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Iowa River Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto City Park Roads, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftBear left onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto City Park Roads, heading S.
  13. 100 ftContinue straight onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading S.
  14. 400 ftTurn right onto Iowa River Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  24. 300 ftContinue straight onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading W.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miPass Eagle Tree.
  27. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  28. 50 ftPass Ralston Creek.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  31. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  34. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  35. 400 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftReach Sand Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  37. 350 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  39. 1.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  40. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  42. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  43. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  44. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  45. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  46. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  47. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  48. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  50. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  51. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  52. 150 ftBear left onto Iowa River Trail, heading W.
  53. 0.2 miTurn left onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading NW.
  54. 450 ftContinue straight onto City Park Roads, heading N.
  55. 50 ftBear right onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading N.
  56. 50 ftBear right onto City Park Roads, heading N.
  57. 150 ftBear left onto Iowa River Trail, heading NW.
  58. 50 ftBear left onto City Park Roads, heading NW.
  59. 150 ftContinue straight onto Iowa River Trail, heading N.
  60. 50 ftBear right onto City Park Roads, heading N.
  61. 50 ftBear right onto Iowa River Trail, heading N.
  62. 100 ftTurn left onto City Park Roads, heading N.
  63. 50 ftContinue straight onto Iowa River Trail, heading N.
  64. 50 ftBear left onto City Park Roads, heading N.
  65. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Iowa River Trail, heading N.
  66. 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-5-sights-11-km

Trail surface

85% paved15% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 62°F53°
Precip48%Wind9 mphUV2Humidity93%
Rained 6.6″ 2 days ago (7.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 31% rain1 AM: 43% rain2 AM: 48% rain3 AM: 41% rain4 AM: 43% rain5 AM: 41% rain6 AM: 38% rain7 AM: 43% rain8 AM: 35% rain9 AM: 27% rain10 AM: 21% rain11 AM: 12% rain12 PM: 15% rain1 PM: 9% rain2 PM: 4% rain3 PM: 2% rain4 PM: 2% rain5 PM: 2% rain6 PM: 2% rain7 PM: 2% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 2% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:54 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:05 PM
Wed 64°50°
Thu 66°53°
Fri 63°57°
Sat 57°54° 34%
Sun 65°56° 37%
Mon 70°52°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Foster Rd @ Laura Dr stop 492 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from City Park Roads Trailhead

Hikes near Iowa City, Iowa