AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Willow Creek Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 325 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Willow Creek Trail is an 8.4-mile out-and-back near University Heights, IA. It climbs 325 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi650 – 761 ft9.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Highway 1 Trail 41.64744, -91.54987
Nearest town University Heights, IA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Creek Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 325 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Elevation 651–760 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Highway 1 Trail · 41.64744, -91.54987

Weather Sep 22: Rain, high 63°F / low 54° · precip 46% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:05 PM

Transit-accessible: Hwy 1 @ Ruppert Rd stop 55 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Highway 1 Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  5. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 0.8 miBear left, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  27. 0.5 miTurn right onto Highway 1 Trail, heading E.
  28. 0.3 miArrive 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/willow-creek-trail-out-back-13-km-d61e

Trail surface

60% paved40% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 63°F54°
Precip46%Wind5 mphUV3Humidity84%
Rained 7.2″ 2 days ago (8.1″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 30% rain1 AM: 43% rain2 AM: 46% rain3 AM: 40% rain4 AM: 42% rain5 AM: 38% rain6 AM: 35% rain7 AM: 31% rain8 AM: 20% rain9 AM: 20% rain10 AM: 19% rain11 AM: 18% rain12 PM: 13% rain1 PM: 6% rain2 PM: 7% rain3 PM: 4% rain4 PM: 2% rain5 PM: 1% rain9 PM: 1% rain10 PM: 1% rain11 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 6:54 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:05 PM
Wed 65°52°
Thu 66°56°
Fri 70°60°
Sat 63°56° 45%
Sun 59°54° 28%
Mon 71°49°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hwy 1 @ Ruppert Rd stop 55 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Highway 1 Trail Trailhead

Hikes near University Heights, Iowa