Sand Lake–Ralston Creek, 3 lakes
4.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 29 min
Sand Lake–Ralston Creek, 3 lakes is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Riverfront Crossings Park near University Heights, IA. The route passes Ralston Creek before reaching Sand Lake at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sand Lake–Ralston Creek, 3 lakes
4.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 29 min
Elevation 629–662 ft
Out & Back · Riverfront Crossings Park
Trailhead: Highway 1 Trail · 41.64746, -91.54789
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Transit-accessible: Hwy 1 West @ Miller Ave stop 102 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Highway 1 Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right onto Iowa River Corridor Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Ralston Creek.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Sand Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 1.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Highway 1 Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miArrive 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 1.7 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Hwy 1 West @ Miller Ave stop 102 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Highway 1 Trail Trailhead
- Highway 1 Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 330 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 8.4 mi · ▲ 325 ft
- Highway 1 Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 302 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 325 ft
- Highway 1 Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 165 ft
- Highway 1 Trail 5.1 mi · ▲ 162 ft
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Hikes near University Heights, Iowa