Type: Nature Trail
Length: 512 miles
Surface: Mix
Condition
Average
Grade - Rolling Moderate Hills
Amenities
Description
The American Discovery Trail is a national trail, crossing the United States through cities, small towns, forests, mountains, farmland, and deserts all on one trail. Its 6,800+ miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretches from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California. It is the first coast to coast, non-motorized trail in the U.S. The ADT provides trail users the opportunity to journey into the heart of all that is uniquely American — its culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.
The trail is divided into 4 regions of the United States; eastern, central - northern, central - southern, and western.
The American Discovery Trail is made up of 8 different trails (see connecting trails)
More info on the American Discovery Trail: Iowa link.
Detailed Trail Description
The trail is divided into 6 segments totaling 512 miles, mostly existing rail-trails:
Davenport to Cedar Rapids — 97 miles
Cedar Rapids to Waterloo — 62 miles
Waterloo to Marshalltown — 79 miles
Marshalltown to Des Moines — 81 miles
Des Moines to Atlantic — 117 miles
Atlantic to Council Bluffs (Nebraska state line) — 76 miles
Location - Where is this Trail?
Trailheads
Sites & Attractions
History of the Trail
Iowa was landscaped during the Ice Age by four massive glaciers that
smoothed out some of the hills and left perhaps the most fertile soil in
the world. Farms take up about 90 percent of the gently rolling land
that produces more corn and beans than any other state, as well as many
other crops. Iowa is also the leading manufacturer of farm and road
construction machinery. Iowa became a part of the United States in 1803
with the Louisiana Purchase and the twenty-ninth state in 1846. The
state's nickname, the Hawkeye State, is said to honor Chief Black Hawk
who led the Sauk and Fox tribes during the Black Hawk War of 1832. (source: American Discovery Trail: Iowa)
Contributors
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This trail was last edited by CedarFallsVisitor on Jun 19, 2020.