About 8 miles of the Grant Wood Trail in Linn County has been constructed so far (2012) along a former Milwaukee Road right-of-way between Marion and Martelle. The trail currently is in three separate segments over a 10-mile stretch, the longest of which is the westernmost segment in Marion (3.25 miles). The trail is named for the early 20th-century Iowa artist, perhaps best known for his painting "American Gothic."
The first (western) segment begins at State Route 13/US 151 and heads east to Oxley Road. The second segment runs a shorter distance between Creekside Road and Springville Road. The third segment runs between Alderman Road and a creek about a third to half mile east of Taylor Road, where it comes to an abrupt dead-end just west of Linn Johnson Road.
All segments of the Grant Wood Trail follow a narrow wooded corridor and open green space among farm fields and farmsteads, occasionally tracing the course of a creek. The trail is compacted gravel on the western section and also features a prehistoric bog. You can link the disconnected segments on-road if traveling by bike. Pick up the
Jones County portion of the trail in Martelle.
There are plans to link the segments one day and also build an underpass at SR 13 to link with trails in Marion. The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
There is limited parking on the westernmost segment along SR 12/US 151 and at the Oxley Road end.