Find the top rated birding trails in Grinnell, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We rode the GAP from Cedar Creek Park to the Boston trailhead at the base of the Historic Boston Bridge and back. About 36 miles round trip. What a great ride. Smooth trail with lots of benches and several picnic areas and toilet facilities. Well maintained. Passed through several little communities along the trail. No major highways and very few little roads to cross making it very safe. Got a delicious huge “medium” size ice cream cone at the “Big Twist” in Blythedale, right off the trail. Highly recommend this ride!
We parked at the trailhead in Dysart; first riding west to the end of the paved trail, then on to the main trail. The first several miles are not maintained all that well; lots of small sink holes that need repair, and one very large low portion completely flooded by recent rains. The trail is basically rural along its entirety; not much population nor competition with other users. We did occur several people walking dogs so be conscious of their needs. Sections where there is heavy shade, as well as exposed to the sun. Overall the trail is nice and relatively private. At the “midpoint” in Garrison, there is a nice rest stop that has water as another stated, as well as a bike repair station. Trail arrives in Vinton; not sure where it leads to there as we turned around. There’s are some sections where it’s clear the trail nee
We had the opportunity to ride across the high trestle during the day and again at night with the lights on. It was beautiful. The lights only spanned the section that crossed directly over the river, but it was still really cool. The rest of the trail was wide and well maintained.
I’ll second the previous reviewer, very nice trail. We did not go through the 2nd detour into Baxter, but the first detour was manageable and as stated because of the washout of the road base they’ll probably have to close that section permanently until they can fix it as it worsens. In that same section there are 2-3 downed trees. We maneuvered the bikes over them ok. The section from Mingo to Baxter was just fine, maybe not butter smooth but the cracks were not bad at all. Highly recommend.
Follows the road but nicely maintained and keeps you off the highway
I biked roundtrip from Slater to Collins. The concrete surface was meticulously maintained and the sides of the trail mowed. A short part of the route going through Huxley was on roads, but the signage was good and the shoulder was wide enough to feel safe. The trail was mostly flat except for the section between Maxwell and Cambridge. Slight grade changes on this stretch made for a good change of pace. Check out the cool bike sculpture at the main trailhead in Slater.
I biked roundtrip from the Norwoodville trailhead to the Baxter trailhead. The concrete surface to Bondurant was an excellent condition and well maintained. The trail was closed just northeast of the Bondurant trailhead and also between NE 88th Street and NE Morgan Drive. The second closure was due to the recent heavy rains. I was able to navigate through both with minimal hassle. A portion of the trail base was washed away on the second closure and will probably be permanently closed until they repair it. At the end of the trail in the city of Baxter, I was rewarded with a red caboose photo op. There was also a large shaded restaurant patio next to the caboose.
I biked from Ankeny to Altoona for a total of 50 miles roundtrip. Recent heavy rains closed the trail on the road underpass sections next to the still swollen Fourmile Creek. The asphalt surface for most of the trail was older with some bumps and cracks, but still manageable. I did have to use roads to bypass the I-80 construction. I especially liked the newer concrete around the Copper Creek Lake Park. The city of Altoona near the Class Act Productions Theater had a unique mural and a quiet space for relaxing.
We only road part of this trail to connect from Great Western Trail to Kruidenier Trail. Very pretty area and smooth even though short. Well kept up.
Path is great to ride on and so beautiful to go around the lake.
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