Find the top rated hike trails in Blythedale, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I am on this trail frequently walking or biking. You get a great view of the lake. It's very smooth for the exception of the gravel path. When I bike I just take the path to the road and then back into the park, getting back on the path. I highly recommend this trail!
The trails ends in a gully. It looks like they are revising the water drainage, but there’s no warning signs until the trail abruptly ends at a impassable gully.
This is nearly a primitive trail. It needs funding and maintained . A mile section between Derby and Humelston is completely overgrown. I had the handlebars jerk out of my hands on 3 different sections. The cinder portion is ok and rideable but some gravel patches are very soft causing almost abrupt slowdowns. Numerous rest shelters are completely overgrown by brush and weeds. The bridges have warnings at both end to get off and walk across because of the uneven planks. I have ridden most all Iowa trails and this is the worst for condition. It is a shame as some of the terrain is quite pretty. But even in July stagnant water and mosquitos were bad. I crashed on the trail due to the very rough uneven surfaces. It would make a good hiking trail. If you ride it you will want wide tires and suspension. I had a hard tail front suspension carbon mountain bike and it was a rough ride.
The paved trail is wide, curvy and follows the southeast lakeshore. The gravel and then grass portions of the trail circle the entire lake and was very well maintained. In all, it was a 9 mile loop they was very scenic. Difficulty level was just right. Highly recommended.
A paved trail among rolling hills from the city park to the state park. Enjoyed it and made a great connector to the Green Valley Lake Trail.
I rode the entire path from Chariton to Humeston on 9/5/2020. After reading the reviews and confirmation from a friend who rode it earlier in the summer I was expecting an adventure of wading through foot high grass from Derby to Humeston. To my surprise this section was mowed very short so I think I saw this trail at its best. The section from Chariton to Derby is well maintained and scenery that is more than just cornfields or a tunnel of trees. Very nice. The southern section from Derby to Humeston was bumpy like riding on a short grass lawn. Pretty but not as appealing as the northern section. The reward is finishing in Humeston which is a wonderful little town with a nice cafe and an interesting variety store.
Family ride with our 5 yo on a pull-behind trailer wheel bike. Started in Derby (after lunch and homemade dessert at Grassroots Cafe in Humeston) and did about 12 miles round trip. Flat, shady, and quiet. Stayed cool despite mid-July heat. You can tell they have done a lot of work on the trail recently—new bridges and gravel in multiple sections. Cute covered bridge! Had worried it would be too rough for us based on reviews. But hybrids managed soft spots no problem. Only thing we didn’t plan for was that cinder dust is extra messy (but for kiddo that was just a bonus).
Great little trail to get some exercise. Private, wooded, and with a splash of history with an old railroad signal. Connects Diagonal to the ghost town of Knowlton.
I am a regular bike rider and usually ride for at least 30 miles round trip on any given day, but after 15 miles round trip on this Trail I was ready to call it a day. Trail is too soft even for mountain bikes as I was sinking into dirt. I would suggest to walk only on this trail.
The posts are to close together to allow a 3 wheel Tri-Cruiser Entrance. Should be at least 40 inches. Noel Keller
Starts out grassy at the south end, then at Derby things get better. Some Amish kids were heading south on horse and buggy so I let them pass, then continued north. Wish we would have met at the covered bridge, but they don't approve of photos.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
Map Search
