Ankeny NWR is an incredible place to hike! Observation blinds located on Rail Trail, Pintail and Egret Trails are a great way to get a closer view of the variety of waterfowl on the Refuge. If you want to photograph birds, stop by Pintail and Eagle Marsh. For a boardwalk hike, go to Rail Trail.
Hiking is allowed in all areas open to the public. Wildlife observation and photography are encouraged. Please stay out of closed areas to minimize disturbance to plants and animals. Bicycling and running are allowed only on designated public access routes. These activities are not allowed on trails or roads closed to public vehicles.
For more accessible trails for all abilities visit the Little Loop and Big Loop trails at the . The Little Loop trail also offers views of the nature explore area designed for kids to comfortably explore the outdoors, a pollinator garden for native plants and pollinators, and more. The Big Loop trail goes along Spring Creek to the David B. Marshall Outdoor Classroom and along several education nodes about decomposers, perpetual stewardship, habitats are homes, and more.
Trails
Pintail - Egret Marsh Boardwalk Trail (Year-round)
Length: .25 miles Difficulty: Easy Type of trail: Out and back
Location: Pintail & Egret Marsh Boardwalk begins at a parking area on the north side of Wintel Road. An interpretive sign at the trailhead describes the Marshes.
Description: The boardwalk follows Bashaw Creek where red-legged frogs are often seen. Make sure to pause along the way to look for animal tracks in the muddy banks, listen for songbirds, and read interpretive signs to learn more about the different residents of this habitat. The boardwalk ends at an observation blind overlook Pintail and Egret Marshes. If you are quiet, you might be rewarded with spotting an osprey soaring overhead. Flocks of waterfowl frequent these marshes, so keep a lookout for various duck species as well as Tundra Swans and Canada geese.
Note: Boardwalk can be slippery when wet or icy. Please use caution during winter months.
Rail Trail to Observation Blind (Year-round)
Length (one-way): .75 miles Difficulty: Easy Type of trail: Out and Back
Trailhead location: The start of Rail Trail is at a parking lot on the south side of Wintel Road. Interpretive signs at the trailhead provide information about the refuge. From the Rail Trail parking lot, follow the gravel trail to the boardwalk.
Trail description: The boardwalk will take you through seasonally flooded ash woodlands. Stop at benches and interpretive panels along the way to look for Downy Woodpeckers pecking away at the branches or listen for Black-capped Chickadees in the shrubs. At the viewing blind, make sure to stop for a look at Wood Duck Pond where Hooded Mergansers, Great Egrets, and Canada geese are often seen. From here, you can return the way you came or continue a short way down the boardwalk as it wraps around Wood Duck Pond to a dike where the loop portions of the trail begin.
Note: Boardwalk can be slippery when wet or icy. Please use caution during winter months.
Ankeny Hill Nature Center Big Loop and Little Loop Trails (Year-round)
Big Loop Trail Length (loop): 0.71 miles Little Loop Trail Length (loop): 0.12 miles Difficulty: Easy Type of trails: Loop
Trailhead location: The Big Loop trail can be accessed on the North or South side of Gehlar Hall from Ankeny Hill Road. The Little Loop trail is located on the right side of the path from the North end of Gehlar Hall.
Trail description: Explore the accessible trails at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center and see all it has to offer such as the Nature Explore Area, Pollinator Patch, bridges, tunnels, David B. Marshall Outdoor Classroom, and several education nodes along the path.
