last updated: June 23rd 2008

Rules for Using Trails |  Safety Tips |  Iowa Trails |  Trail Conditions |  Post Trail Comments

	Ames Recreational Trails Map Ames offers over 55.6 miles of Recreational Paths and Bike Trails for you to enjoy. Recreational Paths 36.5 miles, On-Street Bike Lanes 1.2 miles, Widened Sidewalk Facilities 3.2 miles, Bicycle Friendly Streets 14.6 miles. Approximately 45 more miles of paths/trails are proposed for the future. Click to view a map.
	Banner Lakes Trails Central Iowa Trail Association and Iowa Department of Natural Resources are pleased to debut the first mountain bike trail in Iowa’s newest state park; Summerset State Park. BIKEIOWA news
	Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau Discover our trails… an historic journey, an outdoor wonder, an Iowa treasure. The Cedar Falls area offers over 80 miles of recreational trails that intertwine throughout our community. You will truly be amazed by the trails and the surrounding environment! [LOTS of great maps, infoa bout Trails festivals, amenities, etc.]
	Cedar Trails Check out this site for all the information you need on the 80 miles of connecting trails in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Evansdale and Hudson. You can find maps on the site as well as exciting upcoming events for bikers and bladers alike!
	Central Iowa Trails (off-road) Central Iowa Trail Association creates and maintains unpaved, shared-use trails in and around Des Moines, Iowa. One of CITA's trails they maintain is roughly 14 miles of wooded single-track with varying terrain in the heart of the Des Moines area. See info about "The Center Trails".
	Central Iowa Trails Map Developed by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Feb 2005 to show the completed, planned and potential network of trails in Central Iowa. This is a great map to show central Iowa's existing trail system and the planned connectors. Two 100 mile loops will be in place when completed!
	Chichaqua Valley Trail Bondurant to Baxter Length: 20 miles Surface: asphalt on converted railbed Hours: year-round, sunrise to sunset Fees: none Counties: Polk and Jasper Cities: Baxter, Ira, Mingo, Valeria, Bondurant Connecting trails: none Uses: hiking, nature viewing, biking, cross-country skiing, skating The Chichaqua Valley Trail is part of a proposed 110-mile trail loop that crosses the forested banks and timbered bluffs of the Skunk River. The river got this particular name because local pioneers interpreted the Native American word, "Chichaqua" to mean "skunk." The word actually refers to the odor of the wild onions that once grew along the river's banks. This trail runs through a number of small communities and a variety of wildflowers can be found along the path. The young trees also growing there form a protective arch from sun and wind. A long, lovely wooden bridge crosses the Skunk River and features pullouts where trail-users can pause to admire the river and its valley. More info: http://www.inhf.org/iowatrails/cvt-intro.htm
	Council Bluffs Recreation Trails Council Bluffs is home to a nearly 19-mile continuous system of trails! The paved system is largely poured concrete and asphalt, with some bike lanes used to link certain points of the trail together.
	Council Bluffs Recreation Trails Master Plan This master plan depicts the exisiting recreation trails and bike lanes as well as proposed future trails in Council Bluffs.
	Des Moines Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Map Developed by the Des Moines Area Meropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). This is a street map of the Des Moines Area that shows existing, planned and proposed Bike Routes and Trails. Note: this is a pdf map that you can drill down to the street level anywhere in thge Des Moines metropolitan area.
	Des Moines City Wide Trail Map w/Major Streets Very detailed map of the Des Moines area proper [large 630 kb pdf file]
	Des Moines downtown & metro maps Not really tails maps, but maps for commuters, etc. Two maps are offered; One for the downtown area and the other for the Des Moines metro area.
	DES MOINES PARKS AND RECREATION The mission of the City of Des Moines Park and Recreation Department is to provide safe, clean, and beautiful facilities, parks and open spaces, along with professionally managed leisure activities for all people. Services shall be provided to enrich the quality of life for local citizens and to provide economic value through facilities which create tourism and encourage long-term community stability and growth
	Des Moines Recreational Trails Map View map of msot Des Moines trails Note: Requires Adobe Reader for viewing
	Des Moines River Trails A web site dedicated to the development, use and appreciation of the Des Moines River Water Trail (DMRWT)
	Discovery Trail The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is a new breed of national trail — part city, part small town, part forest, part mountains, part desert — all in one trail. Its 6,300+ miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretches from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California. It reaches across America, linking community to community in the first coast to coast, non-motorized trail. The ADT provides trail users the opportunity to journey into the heart of all that is uniquely American — its culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.
	Enviro-Explorers - Iowa Bike & Trails Enviro-Explorers is an online club for kids who care about the environment and want to learn more about how they can help protect Iowa's resources.
	Fort Dodge Nature Trail, Webster County Length: 3.84 miles Surface: cinder, asphalt, concrete This trail takes users on a tour of city parks and countryside. The diverse landscape includes forest, brush and clearings that afford views of nearby rolling hills. Several bridges on the trail span segments of winding Soldier Creek, and trail users can pause for a “rest stop” at a small shelter with benches. more info
	FUNDING FOR TRAILS Demand for hiking and other human powered recreation is growing at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, federal funding for trails and recreation on public lands is not growing nearly as fast. The federal land management agencies require funding increases to enhance natural and cultural resource management and protection, improve visitor services, and strengthen the volunteer partnerships so critical to the protection of trails and trail lands.
	Great Western Trail Des Moines to Cumming to Martensdale Miles: 16.5 Surface: asphalt Phone: 515-323-5300 Hours: year-round sunrise to sunset Trail Heads: Des Moines - near Izaak Walton League Chapter House, 4343 Valley Drive; Cumming - 1 mile east of I-35 on County Road G14; Churchville - 1 mile west of Hwy 28 & Harrison Street; Martensdale - 2 miles east of I-35 off Hwy. 28 at Inwood Street
	Greater Des Moines Trails With over 300 miles of existing trails and many more planned, you can run, walk, in-line skate, or bicycle. Whether you are out for an afternoon of exercise, commuting to work, or enjoying the scenery on a family outing, the trails are yours to enjoy and protect.
	Ingawanis Mountain Biking auxiliary (IMB) Waverly, IA Various types of singletrack terrain for all skill levels. Features include Rock Garden, Water crossing, and scenic views. Home of IMBCS xc races and other multisport events. Yearly pass available or day passes at Trail Head check in. We host numerous events throughout the year including a stop on the IMBCS XC tour
	Iowa Bicycle Coalition Trails List Iowa leads the nation in Rail to Trail conversions and has a world class trails system. The premier web site for locating trail information is at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Please visit their Iowa By Trails guide online at http://inhf.org/iowatrails/index.htm.
	Iowa City Metro Trails Map Many students commute to and from campus by bike or on foot. For information on bike trails go to this map or pick up a free copy of a bike trail map at City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street.
	Iowa Coalition of Off-Road Riders (ICORR) Great list of off-road trails split between West, Central and Eastern regions. Trail info includes: Maps, Length, Trail Type, Facilities, Conditions, DNR info and Rider Temarks
	Iowa DNR About 40% of Iowa's state park single-track is open to mountain bikes and most county conservation areas are open to bikes, too (http://george.ecity.net/iaccb/) -- though most of that is tacit approval.
	Iowa DOT transportation map for Bicyclists 2007 online Iowa Transportation map
	Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Use this map to find over 42 trails in specific parts of Iowa. Find the trails and go to the "intro" page which includes detailed info, maps, a list of local amenities, local trail and tourism contacts, additional websites related to the trail and more.
	Iowa Satellite Photo Map An Iowa Satellite Photo Map from the Ocean Remote Sensing Group who conducts research associated with civilian and military applications of remote sensing technology in the marine environment.
	Iowa Shaded Relief Map An Iowa Shaded Relief Map from the Ocean Remote Sensing Group who conducts research associated with civilian and military applications of remote sensing technology in the marine environment.
	IOWA TRAIL LISTING The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation provides several helpful tools to make your trail experience more enjoyable: [NOTE: This isa PDF listing]
	Iowa Trails Council The Iowa Trails Council is a non-profit organization which is directed and operated by a diverse group of volunteers, all dedicated to preserving natural resources and providing linear open spaces for public use.
	Johnson County Trail Foundation The Johnson County Trail Foundation was founded as a 501c nonprofit in Dec 2007 with the goal of expanding and enhancing trail and recreational resources in Johnson County. We achieve these goals through fundraising, public awareness campaigns and partnerships with local municipalities, JCCOG, as well as organizations such as the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Join us today and see how far we can go...
	Lake Red Rock Trails Lake Red Rock is Iowa's largest expanse of public land, encompassing over 50,000 acres. Woodlands, rocky bluffs, wetlands, and sandy beaches provide homes to hundreds of wildlife species. A variety of outdoor recreation opportunities also exists! Recreation enthusiasts from near and far come to experience boating, bicycling, camping and many other outdoor adventures.
	Polk County Conservation Board Trail Listing The Polk County Conservation Board's mission is to provide the citizens of Polk County with quality outdoor recreation, conservation education, and long term protection of Polk County's natural heritage.
	Raccoon River Valley Trail Association Des Moines to Jefferson 70+ miles with towns every 10-12 miles. More info here:Trails from Rails The Raccoon River Valley Trail uses the former right-of-way of a railroad built in the 1870s and early ’80s to connect the city of Des Moines with the Iowa Great Lakes region in the northwest part of the state.
	RideMidwest.com - list of Iowa Bike Trails
	Rolling Prairie Trail Site has information that riders will find useful for this new trail cooridor in north central iowa. Segments of this trail are completed, while others are still in the planning stages. The Rolling Prairie Trail is made up of segments in Franklin, Butler, and Bremer County.
	Southeast Minnesota's Root River Trail RootRiverTrail.org is a comprehensive directory of businesses and services available on the incredibly beautiful Root River State Trail in Southeast Minnesota. The 60-mile paved trail meanders through 300-foot bluffs along the bucolic Root River. The website features information on all of the communities along the trail and a live webcam located in downtown Lanesboro.
	State of Wyoming Trail Etiquette No speed limits?? but yet they have all this trail etiquette??
	Story County Parks & Trails Enjoy Story County Parks and Trails! Be Our Guests We invite you to visit our varied and beautiful parks. We'll be happy to help you in anyway we can.
	The Cedar Valley Nature Trail Iowa's Cedar Valley contains many trails, the longest of which is the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, a 52-mile linear park that gives you the best of both worlds: It links two metropolitan areas, but the journey between them takes you through forested bottomlands, rolling farmlands, and classic small Iowa towns.
	The Ioway Trail The purpose of the Ioway Trail Project is to develop a network of multi-use recreation trails in and around the Iowa River corridor from Iowa City / Corralville to Marshalltown, Iowa.
	Trails from Rails This website was designed to give cyclists a list of many of the best bicycle touring trails in the US. All of the trails on this site are paved or are crushed limestone/gravel, so that they are navigable on touring or cross-bikes.
	Travel Iowa's Trail Listing by city/area In Iowa, hundreds of miles of multi-use trails await you for hiking, biking, and other outdoor pursuits. Follow a path to one of the state's relaxing natural areas. Or choose an urban trail for an escape within the city limits.
	West Des Moines Master Parks & Trails Plan A large 3mb pdf file showcasing West Des Moines Master Parks & Trails Plan.
	West Des Moines Trails A rough map with existing, proposed and trails, parks and greenways in West Des Moines.
	Whiterock Conservancy Epic singletrack over 20 miles long. As lands are gradually donated to Whiterock Conservancy over a five-year period, 5,000 acres of contiguous river valley will be opened to the public for recreation, such as equestrian trail riding, camping, mountain biking, stream and pond fishing, and hiking.
	Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance(CIRTPA) Existing and Proposed Trails for an 8 County area in Central Iowa. (Counties included are: Boone, Story, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Madison, Warren and Marion)

	Duck Creek Parkway Location: Bettendorf Construction began: no Scheduled Completion: 2010 Signs explaining the history of the Mississippi River and how it is used for work and play will dot Bettendorf’s riverfront trail when it is extended from Leach Park to the Duck Creek Parkway trail head in Riverdale, Iowa, possibly as early as 2009. The city received a $106,291 grant from the Federal Highway Administration to pay for 80 percent of the project. The city will chip in another 20 percent.
	Flint River Recreation Trail Location: West Burlington Construction began: yes Scheduled Completion: late 2008 The first phase of the trail includes one-third of a mile that will connect the sports complex with a trail built by the city of West Burlington along Division street, according to associate city planner Joe Haley. "This is part of a citywide trail system that has been talked about for years," Haley said. "It's another important piece of the puzzle, and will allow bikers to travel safely to the RecPlex." "The second phase of the project will loop around the facility and offer RecPlex users access to playing fields and other areas," Hartman said.
	Fort Dodge trail connector Location: Webster County Construction began: no Scheduled Completion: unknown Two major goals Webster County Conservation envisions pursuing are connecting the Fort Dodge trail systems with John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and linking the park and the adjacent Lakeside Golf Course to the city’s water system. Extending the Fort Dodge Nature Trail an additional five miles via a route that would pass through the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex is an especially exciting project. It is very much in harmony with the recreational needs of the community.
	Indianola road widening The city has proposed widening a 2-mile section of East Indianola in order to create a four-lane road between Southeast 14th Street and Army Post Road with a recreational trail between the street and houses proposed along the west side of the corridor. Some sections of the road will be five lanes or four lanes with turn lanes at intersections. City engineers have estimated property acquisition to be about $500,000.
	Mississippi River Trail.org Location: Eastern Iowa counties bordering Mississippi River Construction began: yes - in 1996 Scheduled Completion: unknown(Over 60% complete as of 2007) The Mississippi River Trail is a 10-state cycling route in process of development with over 280 miles of trail in Iowa. It travels over 2000 continuous miles between the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico, winding its way through the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
	Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge The Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge is a 3,000 foot footbridge across the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska scheduled to be completed in November 2008. In May 2006 a final cable-stayed bridge design by Kansas City, Missouri architect firm HNTB was selected for the bridge which is budgeted to cost $22 million and include two 200-foot-tall towers and be 52 feet above the river. Main funding for the bridge is a $19 million federal grant that was awarded in 2000 at the behest of former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey with state and private funds picking up the rest. Interest in a landmark bridge across the Missouri River has arisen ever since Omaha and Council Bluffs began replacing their older crossings with girder bridges which do not have towers (most notably the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge). The bridge is scheduled to be north of the I-480 girder bridge and would connect Riverfront Place's Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha to One Renaissance Center in the former Playland Park in Council Bluffs. Groundbreaking for construction of the bridge occurred on October 26, 2006. The project is led by the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) in accordance with The NDOR standard Specifications and the Rules & Regulations. MAP
	North Newton Hike and Bike Trail Location: Newton Construction began: yes Scheduled Completion: 2008 The project begins at the existing hike/bike trail in the northwest corner of Agnes Patterson Memorial Park and will be constructed in the south right-of-way of North 11th Avenue East to East 19th Street North, where it will cross to the north right-of-way of North 11th Avenue East and continue to the East 12th Street North intersection.
	South Tama Recreation Trail Extension Location: TOLEDO Construction began: no Scheduled Completion: unknown The extension of the trail will run from First Street north under U.S. Highway 30 at Deer Creek and end near the new Ross Street bridge and the Toledo City Park trail.
	Trout Run Trail development Location: Decorah Construction began: yes Scheduled Completion: unknown The goal of this project is to develop a 12-mile paved recreational trail circling the City of Decorah. This scenic trail will provide local users and visitors alike increased recreational opportunities. The trail will boost tourism in the area, attracting many more visitors and increasing business in area restaurants, hotels, motels, and retail establishments.
	Walnut Creek Trail Connector Location: Des Moines Construction began: mid 2006 Scheduled Completion: May 2008 The Walnut Creek Trail is critical to central Iowa’s trail system as it provides the connection of four major systems: (1) Windsor Heights, Clive, and Raccoon River Valley Trails; (2) West Des Moines Trails system (connection will be at 63rd and Railroad); (3) Bill Riley, Water Works Park, and Great Western Trails; (4) Bill Riley, MLK/Fleur Drive, Kruidenier (Grays Lake), Riverpoint (downtown), John Pat Dorrian, Neal Smith, and Saylorville Trails. Moire info on the Walnut Creek Trail
	Waveland Trail Location: Des Moines Construction began: No Scheduled Completion: unknown The recommendation calls for a trail head at the corner of 56th Street and Pleasant Drive, then jogging north and following Interstate Highway 235 west to connect with a current greenway and dirt trail that run south along Ronwood Drive, following Cummins Creek. The project would connect the .7-mile trail with the Walnut Creek Trail to the south and the 56th Street Bridge and bike path overpass to the north. Cost of the project has yet to be determined.