Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

Willow Creek Trail

10.9 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 45 min

Willow Creek Trail is a 10.9-mile out-and-back in Terry Trueblood Recreation Area near Iowa City, IA. It is mostly level, with 247 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi627 – 761 ft12.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.63113, -91.52911
Nearest town Iowa City, IA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Creek Trail

10.9 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 45 min

Elevation 625–760 ft

Out & Back · Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

Trailhead: 41.63113, -91.52911

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

Transit-accessible: Iowa River Trail @ S Gilbert St stop 25 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 2.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miReach Willow Creek Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  16. 150 ftSharp right, heading E.
  17. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 2.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  24. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  26. 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

82% paved18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:54 AMSunset 7:05 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Iowa River Trail @ S Gilbert St stop 25 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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