Iowa | TrailLink

The " Great American" Route Through Iowa

The first state in the nation to put the Railbanking Act of 1983 to use, Iowa has a long history of leadership in trail development. Its rich network of trails includes well-established pathways such as the picturesque Cedar Valley Nature Trail—one of the state’s first rail-trail conversions and the state’s Great American gateway trail—and the nationally renowned High Trestle Trail with its famous mine-shaft-themed art installation. These trails will join with dozens of other trails to create a 465-miles-plus route from Davenport to Council Bluffs.

Iowa is rich in railroad and western trail history, with Council Bluffs having served as the eastern terminus for the first transcontinental railroad and a stop along the 1804–1806 Corps of Discovery Expedition—now the headquarters for the 3,700-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

A Great Way to Spend a Sunday Morning!

October 2021 thejake91739

The wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip bicycling from the Nebraska side to Iowa and eventually back over on this awesome suspension bridge in October. Plenty of photo ops, pedestrians, and joggers!
Bicyclists: Plan on riding Omaha's Riverfront Trail and Iowa's Riverfront Trail on either side of the bridge to make a day of it! Council Bluff's Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park is especially cool with its large grassy areas, trees, and sculptures!

Paw Park

October 2015 noel.keler

Found parking at Paw Park with facilities. Trail surface is in good condition. North from Paw Park is through Commercial area. South some shade & scenic to Prairie Lakes Park. Many unmarked side trails that can confuse. Great Mayor Bridge across SR58. Noel Keller 8 Sep 15

Nice urban trail

July 2023 trob4cy

Connects to a lot of other trails. Be sure to stop at Anton's Garden.

Most of trail is nice

July 2023 trob4cy

This trail is a great resource for Eastern and Northeastern Iowa. Overall nice trail. There are some places that could use a bit more crushed limestone around Urbana. Bridge in LaPorte City opened back up in 2020 (be sure to stop at Tootsie's).

Indiana Trail Reviews

Accordion

January 0001 Anonymous

Great way to bike across the Mississippi

June 2022 hilbertdr

We did a ride combining short sections of the Great River Trail (IL) and Mississippi River Trail (IA) and used the Arsenal Bridge for one of our two river crossings. It has a separated bike/walk trail and it was easy to ride and fun to get a close up view of the Lock and Dam

More work coming

March 2023 jwsknk_tl

In 2023 about 11/2 miles from Skunk River east to be paved, heard a rumor they got more funds to pave up to S14 or farther towards Maxwell. I35 bridge replacement could close that section for a couple of years in 24 and 25

Great Trail, Great Experience - A Must See Trail

August 2023 jsafret

This was the first stop in our 2023 "Tour de Great Plains & Colorado" bike trip. We rode this trail east 10 miles from the western most trailhead "Woodward, Iowa". The trail was perfect concrete about 10 feet wide and mostly flat. The trestle is amazing and Iowa is beautiful. The Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid is a perfect place to stop and grab a bite to eat and a drink. It was a wonderful day and a great experience. We're off to a great start!!!

The first part was fully overgrown. Maybe the sections in the north get better...

August 2022 wriesnik.elias

well-maintained

September 2020 dbahrenfuss

Nice trail!

Trail Access

September 2022 jgator

The Historic Trails Center at the southern end of the trail was not open when I did the trail in mid Sept. No parking available. However, lots of parking available at the Council Bluffs Recreational complex about 1/2 east on the same road and there is a nice bike trail that connects to the Riner Front Trail.

Really Fun..

May 2022 frank.figueroa7044

Very enjoyable bike trail.. great workout awesome scenery. Definitely recommend

jmac

June 2021 mcguire2001

This is a nice shaded trail and attaches to the Wabash on the east side. If you go west it’s a 5 mile ride to the Bob Kerry pedestrian bridge. The pavement on Manawa Trail is rippled and pretty bumpy on the southside.

pretty nice

December 2023 cthibalt

Rode this trail in December seems really nice to me. I almost didn’t go because of the negative reviews, I guess these items have been repaired because I had no complaints.

Lots to view while riding. One of the best trails in Eastern Iowa. Stopped at the Village for lunch with lots of eating establishments.Ann

November 2022 sparny1217

Nice Trail

October 2012 dctrail

The Pioneer Trail provides a nice way to enjoy the countryside across the central part of Grundy County. With the exception of a couple of gaps in the trail in and around Grundy Center, cycling the trail is a very enjoyable experience.

Jefferson to Herndon rough ride

September 2023 thepetpal

We rode yesterday from the depot in Jefferson, south through Cooper to Herndon. The first four miles were lovely and smooth on concrete. Then the asphalt began and was a bit rough until Cooper. The next five miles south to Herndon were extremely bad, as in, I don't care to ever ride that section again! Hopefully they can get enough money for resurfacing in the near future.

Jim

September 2021 jimpospisil

Nice trail all cement hopefully they extend it before long support your local trails

Great trail, but..........

August 2023 rkc1954

Great trail, but doubt if a lot of us will live long enough to see it finished. Started in 2017 in Marshall county, been working on it for 7 years but only 3 miles done. At this rate, it will take about 25 years to get to the Hardin County line, (about 12 miles) where they will take over for their share. I believe Hardin county has maybe 5 miles paved. There's a large bridge over the Iowa River north of Marshalltown which needs replaced to carry the ambulances. The trail is concrete and 10 feet wide.

enjoyable

Not that much shaded areas but it was a good time.. very windy at times cause it’s next to the river.

Great for bike riding

October 2020 ckoher

This is a beautiful section of trail for walking, running, biking. It is one of my favorite trails to ride when in Iowa. Rather flat paved path that runs along the river, and tree covered for a shady ride on warmer days.

rough asphalt

March 2024 lyonsjustin1958

It is too bad the asphalt has cracked. A great effort was made to have a nice trail but the cracks were enough to make it rough riding. That is the reason such a low rating. I also question why most of the trees have been cut down.

Get tired legs rideing all the trails that comes off the vererans memorial trail and the numberass of veiws from 17 miles north of Omaha Neb. to the Iowa and Mo. state line south you won't forget these trails from one to the other

June 2013 shirart

I say this becaus i have made all of these trails one at time sometimes two or three and there is water as you go Have nice trip there is some grades but not bad ones as im 76 235lb so if i can make it you can also