AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Creek State Park

Saylorville Lake–Big Creek Lake, 4 lakes

8.1 mi · ▲ 177 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Saylorville Lake–Big Creek Lake, 4 lakes is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Big Creek State Park near Polk City Junction, IA. The route passes Big Creek State Park Beach and Big Creek Lake before reaching Saylorville Lake at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 177 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi850 – 974 ft9.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.81870, -93.73770
Nearest town Polk City Junction, IA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Saylorville Lake–Big Creek Lake, 4 lakes

8.1 mi · ▲ 177 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Elevation 850–973 ft

Out & Back · Big Creek State Park

Trailhead: 41.81870, -93.73770

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:16 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Big Creek State Park Beach.
  3. 50 ftPass Big Creek Lake.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 450 ftBear right onto Neal Smith Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.9 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 1.8 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miReach Saylorville Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 2.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  21. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  23. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  26. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.9 miBear left, heading N.
  28. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
  31. 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/saylorville-lake-big-creek-lake-out-back-5-beaches-13-km

Trail surface

81% paved7% gravel12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~81 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 7:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Polk City Junction, Iowa