Terry Trueblood Recreation Area
Willow Creek Trail
14.4 mi · ▲ 436 ft · 5 hr 1 min
Willow Creek Trail is a 14.4-mile out-and-back in Terry Trueblood Recreation Area near University Heights, IA. It climbs 436 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Willow Creek Trail
14.4 mi · ▲ 436 ft · 5 hr 1 min
Elevation 625–760 ft
Out & Back · Terry Trueblood Recreation Area
Trailhead: 41.64912, -91.56946
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:05 PM
Transit-accessible: Benton St @ Spencer Dr stop 130 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 500 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.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 400 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 1.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
- 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 7.0 mi in (~177 min). Leave by 3:49 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Benton St @ Spencer Dr stop 130 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 12.1 mi · ▲ 272 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 12 mi · ▲ 327 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 14.4 mi · ▲ 326 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 11.2 mi · ▲ 272 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near University Heights, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near University Heights, Iowa