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Type: Rail Trail

Length: 33 miles

Surface: Paved

Concrete from Lake View to Maple River and asphalt from Maple River to Carroll and onto Swan Lake State Park


Condition

Awesome Shape

Grade - Flat


Amenities


Description

Discover Iowa's First Trail Connecting Two State Parks

5 Friendly Communities, 2 Beautiful Lakes and 1 Great Ride!  The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33 mile long multi-use hard surface recreational trail in Sac and Carroll Counties.With Lake View, Black Hawk Lake and Black Hawk State Park at the north end, the trail winds through the contryside communities of Carnarvon, Breda and Maple River before reaching Swan Lake State Park south of Carroll.


Location - Where is this Trail?

Lake View, Carnarvon, Breda, Maple River and Carroll IA


Trailheads

Carroll - Rolling Hills Park (Center of town), Houlihan Access (SW side of town, West of HWY 71) or Swan Lake State Park
Maple River - No true trailhead but parking is available near the angry beaver bar
Breda - Parking is available near the old train depot, downtown or by the Breda memorial park
Carnarvon - Parking is available east of the old grain elevator
Lake View - Bike arch near downtown


Sites & Attractions

* Trailgoers can find many historic landmarks along the trail, including a historical farmstead in Swan Lake State Park, a restored 1905 train depot in Breda and the iconic stone piers on Black Hawk Lake in Lake View.

* Wildlife viewing opportunities are prevalent along the trail. Traveling through the Black Hawk Marsh, Hazelbrush wildlife area and along the Sauk Bluebird Trail makes you feel like one with nature.

* Winding through the peaceful countryside, trail users will come upon a variety of beautiful sights including a wind farm and sweeping fields of wildflowers.

* There are several rest stops along the way, from parks to benches to bars and restaurants. Each community along the trail welcomes visitors with small-town Iowa hospitality.

History of the Trail

The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33 mile long multi-use recreational trail that was completed in 1998. The trail is managed by both the Sac and Carroll County Conservation Boards. It is the first recreational trail in the state of Iowa to connect two state parks. It begins in Lake View near Blackhawk Lake State Park and winds through the countryside of Sac and Carroll counties, ending in Swan Lake State Park south of Carroll. The trail surface is concrete from Lake View to Maple River Junction, and asphalt from Maple River Junction to Swan Lake. It is an excellent place for biking, walking, jogging and in-line skating and is open for snowmobiling and cross-county skiing during the winter.


Future Plans

Planned Mileage: 0 miles -


Contributors

The following members have contributed to the above Trail content.


This trail was last edited by bikeiowa on Jun 1, 2018.

Upcoming Events

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Past Events

Spring Bike Bash 2023

10 Saturday Jun 2023
  • Lake View, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    1,128

Pelican Pedal Awesome 80's Ride

22 Saturday Apr 2023
  • Lake View, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    959

Sauk Rail Trail Fundraiser

14 Thursday Jul 2022
  • Carroll, IA
  • Meeting
  •    2,097

Wall Lake Tour de Farm Bike Ride / Side by Side Ride

18 Saturday Jun 2022
  • Wall Lake, IA
  • Trail Ride
  •    2,895

Bike Bash 2022

11 Saturday Jun 2022
  • Lake View, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    1,443

Big Bike Give 2022

24 Tuesday May 2022
  • online, IA
  • Other
  •    3,393

BIKE4SIGHT

14 Saturday Aug 2021
  • Storm Lake, IA
  • Road
  •    1,867

Wall Lake Tour de Farm Ride

26 Saturday Jun 2021
  • Wall Lake, IA
  • Trail Ride
  •    2,969

Spring Bike Bash

12 Saturday Jun 2021
  • Lake View, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    1,759

Ragbrai Roadshow-Sauk Rail Trail

24 Saturday Apr 2021
  • Carroll, IA
  • Trail Ride
  •    2,052

Embrace the Hills

19 Saturday Sep 2020
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Road
  •    8,426

Trailside Roadhouse Customer Appreciation(Sauk Rail Trail)

3 Thursday Sep 2020
  • Carnarvon, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    1,295

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READY. SET. BIKE IOWA! - a Fun Friday Word Search

  • bikeiowa
  • Fri March 24 2023
  •   1,538
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RAGBRAI L Pass-through towns announced

  • bikeiowa
  • Mon March 13 2023
  •   2,410
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Rideworthy Routes - Get Inspired by Travel Iowa

  • bikeiowa
  • Thu September 8 2022
  •   1,658
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Big Bike Give

  • bikeiowa
  • Fri May 20 2022
  •   2,962
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FRIDAY FIVES - EP.10 - July 24th 2020

  • bikeiowa
  • Thu July 30 2020
  •   2,080
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12 Patios Worth the Pedaling

  • Jess Rundlett
  • Wed July 18 2018
  •   20,823
Review Features Image

Victoria Restaurant in Breda

  • dmartin1
  • Sat June 6 2015
  •   10,355
Feature Features Image

The Sauk Rail Trail joins as BIKEIOWA Sponsor

  • bikeiowa
  • Sun May 31 2015
  •   18,016
Review Features Image

BIKEIOWA Road Trip 2014 - Day 1

  • bikeiowa
  • Sun July 27 2014
  •   54,677

Edit Trail

Members of the BIKEIOWA Community can update Trail information. We figure that YOU may know more about the Trail than WE do.

Edit

Latest Sauk Rail Trail News

Funds sought for Riverside Trail resurfacing

  • Wed December 20 2023
  •   119

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Iowa By Trail

Sauk Trail is closed for three miles south of Breda for five bridges deck to be replaced with cement. Trail will be reopened sometime next week. Plus a bit of news come see the new bar called Whisky Creek that opened on the trail in Maple River.

#2 - Catriker posted Sep 28, 2015


The 2nd Annual Ride the Rail is June 16th. Come join the fun!!

#1 - hawkeyebellz posted Jun 5, 2012


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