Willow Creek Trail
12.1 mi · ▲ 272 ft · 4 hr 10 min
Willow Creek Trail is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in Sycamore Greenway near University Heights, IA. It climbs 272 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Willow Creek Trail
12.1 mi · ▲ 272 ft · 4 hr 10 min
Elevation 625–760 ft
Out & Back · Sycamore Greenway
Trailhead: 41.64778, -91.56894
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:53 AM · sunset 7:07 PM
Transit-accessible: Benton St @ Spencer Dr stop 265 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Sycamore Greenway Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~135 min). Leave by 4:32 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Benton St @ Spencer Dr stop 265 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sycamore Greenway Trail 13.4 mi · ▲ 270 ft
- Sycamore Greenway Trail 13.4 mi · ▲ 300 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 12 mi · ▲ 327 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 14.4 mi · ▲ 326 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 14.4 mi · ▲ 436 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 11.2 mi · ▲ 272 ft
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