Gay Lea Wilson — Pleasant Hill paved return
Iowa · Greenway
From the county-listed Pleasant Hill trailhead follow the signed Gay Lea Wilson eastern spur toward Altoona for up to two miles, then retrace. Stay on the paved multi-use trail; the mountain-bike park, lake circuit and northbound route to the I-80 work area are excluded.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Pleasant Hill · Iowa
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved separated Gay Lea Wilson trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Urban greenway with junctions, local ramps and street crossings. No measured maximum grade.
- Starting location
- Gay Lea Wilson public trailhead at west end of Copper Creek Plaza parking lot near Copper Creek Lake, Pleasant Hill, IA
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Approximate named public park/facility reference, not a surveyed entrance or parking stall.
Gay Lea Wilson — Pleasant Hill paved return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Gay Lea Wilson public trailhead at west end of Copper Creek Plaza parking lot near Copper Creek Lake, Pleasant Hill, IA.
County identifies public trailhead access at the west end of the Copper Creek Plaza parking lot near the lake, off University Avenue. Use signed trailhead spaces and obey commercial, event and reserved-space restrictions.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 4 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the county-listed Pleasant Hill trailhead follow the signed Gay Lea Wilson eastern spur toward Altoona for up to two miles, then retrace. Stay on the paved multi-use trail; the mountain-bike park, lake circuit and northbound route to the I-80 work area are excluded.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved separated Gay Lea Wilson trail. Urban greenway with junctions, local ramps and street crossings. No measured maximum grade.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. County explicitly identifies this paved eastern spur and cyclists. Its current page retains 2026–27 I-80 work warnings on the separate northern corridor. The 2025 projected reopening does not establish a current through-route. This short eastern return does not use the road detour. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.