As of September 2020, signs still state that this trail is closed due to flooding, but the trail is completely dry.

Definitely not a trail for a road bike, but my hybrid bike handled it relatively well. A lot of ruts were repaired with very sharp white stones, though, so it was a rough ride and I never cycled above 10 mph.

At one point the trail is part of a levee above a cornfield. This levee was so thick with crushed stones that my tires kept sinking and I had to push my bike through this part. Finally, I gave up and turned back.

Lovely views complete with turtles, snakes, and frogs crossing the path. Trail needs some care, though.

My brother and I had both registered for the 2020 Rooster Tail ride, and were disappointed, although understood, when it was announced that it was cancelled. We decided to go ahead and ride the trail anyway. I live about 150 miles away and was looking forward to the ride.
We decided to start at the trail head in Council Bluffs, and we had already had rooms reserved in Shenandoah. We started early (6:00 a.m.) due to the heat. It was an excellent ride, the trail was in great shape. Surprisingly, their was very little traffic on the trail. I had been on the trail as far as Malvern before. When we arrived in Shenandoah we discussed going on to the end of the trail and back. We decided against it , but I did go out on the trail far enough so that I would hit 50 miles, my longest one day ride to date.
We were delayed on Sunday morning for our return ride by some rain showers, but once on our way, the trail was still in good shape, but a little soft due to the rain. Once we hit Mineola we started to meet a lot of people on the trail. Once again when I got to the end, I went just a little farther to record my second 50 mile ride.
It was a great ride on a great trail and I will definitely do this again.

Very disappointed to find that the entire trail is closed due to extensive flood damage and is expected to remain closed for 2020.

We started in Brownville and the ride up to Peru is terrible! Multiple trees down and very soft areas that made us walk the bikes. We almost turned around at 7 miles. The ride from Peru to Nebraska City was perfect and saved the trail! Only one tree down and the path was in great shape! If would just skip the Brownville to Peru stretch until it gets fixed.

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.

Don't miss out on this wonderful trail!

My husband and I rode Mineloa to Imogene (locals say this is the most scenic part of the trail) in late August. The shady path was really welcoming and peaceful on this sunny warm Iowa day. We were lucky enough to chat with a superb bowtied gentleman, one of the original heroes who advocated to make this path a rail-trail starting in 1988 - and there was much local opposition! This gentleman, now a healthy 74 years old, rides regular and is part of the smashing volunteers on The Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

Thank you Iowa and all those who volunteer to keep this trail sparkling!

What I love most about the Wabash, is that it captures all the remote scenery and serenity that I remember from childhood growing up in Kansas, TN, KY and ozark areas. The flora and wildlife on the trail kind of blend that variety with the midwest prairie in a lush and comfortable display of life. I can get to it from my house in Midtown Omaha via a series of local trails, all thrilling through the parks, pit stops, historic downtown shopping, and across the river at the National Parks HQ last even MORE parks, and finally to the Wabash which I am proud to say is a park in itself! I love it for its length and use and find it fun to camp out along near warm summer months when the natural wild secluded atmosphere is blended with distant fireworks and lawnmowers and dogs barking and the dreams of the next small town to stop for an ice cream or cold juice along the journey. I’ve not yet ridden it in Autumn but am prepared to do so this year. It’s been a great opportunity to get in tune with myself and the land and learn about foraging, sustainable resource, and to find happiness as I remain in this community. I hope to meet some amazing people as I travel the Wabash in the future. I also hope for more marked primitive camp zones in shaded safe areas along the trail for future use, and for far many more miles to be added and a link of web across states may be achieved before I am too old to ride much. I am looking forward to the snow melting now and getting back on path as soon as the new green shoots appear and some days off of work allow me to return to this peaceful place.

This was an epically gorgeous ride. We started at the trailhead in Council Bluffs. I followed my map to Lewis Central Middle School and then it’s just right south of that and it got us there just fine. We did a day bike and went 22 miles to Malvern. We had stellar Bloody Marys and great food at Classic Cafe. I heard the place across the street had good ice cream too. Then we headed back and stopped in Mineola at Toby Jack’s Steakhouse for a beer. Great little place that is super use to bikers stopping in. Ended up back at the CB trailhead. If 44 miles is too much I think a bike to Silver City and back would be easier and you still get a pretty gorgeous ride.

You’ll love this trail. It goes along side with the Missouri river. Plenty to see and the people are nice.