By dctrail on June 13, 2009
The Raccoon River Valley Trail makes a great destination for bicyclists looking for a leisurely ride through a diverse cross section of Iowa, including the growing suburb of Waukee, to the picturesque county seat communities of Adel and Jefferson, to small towns such as Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, and Cooper. Between these communities you will experience wooded areas, prairie remnants, and agricultural ground. Nearly all of the towns along the trail offer amenities for trail users including dining opportunities, restrooms, bed & breakfasts and a host of other services. The trail is quite popular with cyclists in the Des Moines metro area and sees heavy use as weather permits year round. A new 33- mile extension of the trail is being developed from Waukee, through Dallas Center, Minburn, Perry, Dawson, Jamaica and Herndon (where it will re-connect with the existing trail) that will create a nearly 90-mile paved looped trail! Construction has already started along segments of the new 33 mile section, and the entire project is expected to be completed within a couple of years (pending securing the final funding needed, which is nearly complete). As the trail uses a former railroad bed, the grade is quite flat in most places making it a great trail for cyclists of all abilities. The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association organizes several activities along the trail each year, including rides, a Fall Festival, and an annual banquet.
By dloweatl on September 22, 2008
I ride the lower half of the trail all the time, there is no damage from the flooding. There are quite a difference in the sections of the trail.
From Waukee to Ortonville, flat, open corn fields
From Ortonville to Adel. Through the woods, a canopy over you
From Adel to Redfield. Many trees along the side, with corn fields on either side.
From Redfield to Harlan. Uphill along the river, climbing up to a high prairie. QUite beautiful and varying.
While the path is mostly asphault, it crossed many dirt roads, and you have to be very careful getting across them.
There is a depot in Redfield that sells pop and gatoraid, and is 'manned' by locals who are very friendly.
The trail will be adding another 33 mile loop in 2009 along another rail line, creating a loop.
By Maryquilter on August 25, 2008
This is a great trail. Paved, scenic and best of all isn't right next to a road. We saw vehicles only in the towns. We rode from Yale to Jefferson through miles and miles of corn and soybeans. This section of the trail is fairly open. The next day we rode from Yale to Redfield and back which is quite different. From Panora to Redfield is almost all in tree tunnels, welcome shade in the hot August weather.
The trail is paved. Some is concrete and found some newly laid blacktop near Yale. The trail is very rideable, but the section from Yale to Panora needs some repairs. A person from the county told us these repairs are scheduled to be made soon. The trail crosses many gravel/dirt roads and the transition from the pavement to dirt is frequently very rocky or has deep soft dirt which could be a problem with a road bike traveling at high speeds.
We could see where water had been over the trail, but there was no damage to the trail in the sections we rode.
We camped in a RV at Springbrook State Park which is six miles west of Yale. A delightful find as was this trail.