Parks and trails
Parks and trails near The Cypress
The east side keeps its green space close. A city lake with a loop trail, a regional paved trail that reaches to Altoona, and a creek greenway are all a short drive from Hubbell Avenue.
Copper Creek Lake Park
3.8 miles east, at 4390 East University Avenue in Pleasant Hill. Copper Creek Lake Park is run by the City of Pleasant Hill and centers on a 40-acre lake with a lighted paved trail, about 1.2 miles, looping the water. There is fishing, a playground, shelters and picnic areas. The lake's trail ties into the wider Fourmile Creek system.
The Gay Lea Wilson Trail
A paved regional trail that runs through the east metro, connecting Des Moines, Pleasant Hill and Ankeny with a spur reaching east to Altoona. Polk County Conservation manages the Pleasant Hill and Altoona segments, and a trailhead sits near Copper Creek, so you can pick it up close to home.
The Fourmile Creek Greenway
Polk County Conservation is restoring a long corridor of woodland and prairie along Fourmile Creek on the east side, for wildlife, water quality and flood control, with trail and park access tied in. Copper Creek Lake is open for fishing, and an Iowa fishing license is required for anyone sixteen or older. Most homes here are two-bedroom, one-bath, about 860 square feet, with a stove and refrigerator included. Renovated homes have new kitchens and baths; classic homes keep their finishes and rent for less; Cypress II also has a few 430-square-foot one-bedrooms. Current rents sit on the availability page.
Questions people ask
What parks are near The Cypress?
Copper Creek Lake Park in Pleasant Hill (3.8 miles), with a lake and a lighted loop trail, plus the Gay Lea Wilson Trail and the Fourmile Creek Greenway, both managed by Polk County Conservation.
Is there a walking trail near The Cypress?
Yes. Copper Creek Lake Park, 3.8 miles east, has a lighted paved trail of about 1.2 miles around the lake, and the Gay Lea Wilson Trail runs through the east metro with a trailhead near the lake.
Who runs Copper Creek Lake Park?
The City of Pleasant Hill. It centers on a 40-acre lake with a lighted loop trail, fishing, a playground and picnic areas.
Can you fish near The Cypress?
Yes. Copper Creek Lake, 3.8 miles east, is a fishing lake. An Iowa fishing license, issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is required for anyone sixteen or older.
Distances are road miles from 3913 Hubbell Avenue, measured with OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026. The site keeps no distance module of its own, so the route planner is the source. Park facts from the City of Pleasant Hill and Polk County Conservation, October 2026.
More about living here
- Living on the east side of Des Moines
- Shopping near The Cypress
- Things to do in Altoona, near The Cypress
- Groceries and everyday errands near The Cypress
- Eating and drinking near The Cypress
- Commuting from The Cypress
- Cypress I and Cypress II: which is which
- The floor plans at The Cypress, explained
- Renovated or classic: your call at The Cypress
- Pet-friendly apartments at The Cypress
- How to apply at The Cypress
- Working from home at The Cypress
- What residents say about The Cypress
- The neighborhood guide
- All questions