Iowa Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

672 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Iowa?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Iowa, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

City Trails and Maps in Iowa

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
73 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Bear River Recreation Trail

5.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Cedar Valley Lakes Trail

11.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

69 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Chichaqua Valley Trail

27 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Clive Greenbelt Trail

7.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Copper Creek Trail

0.75 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Fairfield Loop Trail

16 mi
State: IA
Concrete, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Fort Dodge Nature Trail

2.6 mi
State: IA
Cinder

Gay Lea Wilson Trail

20.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Heritage Trail (IA)

29.4 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

High Trestle Trail

31.4 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Kewash Nature Trail

13.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Laurens Prairie Preservation Trail

0.8 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Little River Scenic Pathway

1.8 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Mapleleaf Pathway

1.5 mi
State: IA
Grass, Gravel

Pleasant Valley Trail

4.5 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail

20 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Raccoon River Valley Trail

89 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Ringgold Trailway

2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt
Accordion

Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail

3.75 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Russell White Nature Trail

3.8 mi
State: IA
Ballast, Grass

Sac and Fox Trail

7.2 mi
State: IA
Concrete, Crushed Stone

Sauk Rail Trail

33.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Solon-Lake Macbride Recreation Trail

5.3 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

South Riverside Trail

3.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Spencer Recreational Trail

10.5 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Summerset Trail

12 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

T-Bone Trail

19.6 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Three Rivers Trail

39.9 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Trout Run Trail

11 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Volksweg Trail

12.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

63 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

27 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Waverly Rail Trail

7.6 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Cedar Prairie Trail

7.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Cinder Path

13.5 mi
State: IA
Cinder, Crushed Stone

Grant Wood Trail (Linn County Segment)

14.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Grass, Gravel

Great Western Trail (IA)

16.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Harry Cook Nature Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

25.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Iowa Great Lakes Trail

14.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Lake Manawa Trail

7.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Lamoni Rail-Trail

4.7 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Old Creamery Nature Trail

15.3 mi
State: IA
Cinder, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Pine Lake Trail

2.4 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Pioneer Trail

11.5 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Pony Hollow Trail

3.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Puddle Jumper Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Readlyn Grump Trail

6.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Rock Creek Recreation Bike Trail

5.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Wolf Creek Trail (IA)

2.6 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Comet Trail

7 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Grass

Flint River Trail (IA)

1.5 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Paint Creek Trail (IA)

2.5 mi
State: IA
Dirt

Wheels to Heels Trail

3.8 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Cedar View Trail

4.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Ed Winkel Memorial Trail

4.7 mi
State: IA
Gravel

Galloping Goose Trail (IA)

0.5 mi
State: IA
Ballast, Dirt, Grass

Grundy County Lake Trail

3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Hubbard Prairie Trail

1.3 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Praeri Rail Trail

10.5 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Reumpers Nature Trail

0.3 mi
State: IA
Cinder

Riverside Park Trail

3.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Riverside Trail (IA)

1.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Sergeant Road Trail

9.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

South Tama Recreation Trail

5.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt

Sweet Water Creek Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Sycamore Greenway Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Winnebago Trail

3.7 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Bear River Recreation Trail follows part of the Maquoketa River outside of Spragueville and Preston, through bucolic countryside of woodlands, farms and river lowlands. You can start the trail in...
IA 5.6 mi Crushed Stone
Closure Notice: Since 2019, a portion of the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail within George Wyth State Park (just east of the Krieg's Crossing bridge junction with the South Riverside Trail) has been closed...
IA 11.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail follows the fertile Cedar River between Evansdale and Ely. The 69-mile trail comprises three former trails—the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Cedar River Trail and parts of...
IA 69 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The paved Chichaqua Valley Trail crosses 27 miles of central Iowa farmland between the northeastern Des Moines suburbs and the rural community of Baxter. The trail’s name, pronounced chee-chak-wah, is...
IA 27 mi Asphalt
While Greater Des Moines is flush with multiuse trails, one of the paved pathways running through the suburb of Clive really stands out. Offering a string of trailside parks and fun twists and turns...
IA 7.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Copper Creek Trail runs for a short distance from the town of Preston, heading northwest along Copper Creek to meet with the Bear River Recreation Trail. You'll find a nice picnic spot with a...
IA 0.75 mi Crushed Stone
The Fairfield Loop Trail forms a 16-mile ring around the town of Fairfield, mostly in the outlying areas of the countryside. The trail links two major preserves and connects city and county parks....
IA 16 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Fort Dodge Nature Trail begins at the city's Snell-Crawford Park and runs northeast for nearly 3 miles. The trail travels adjacent to overhead power lines and crosses a couple of bridges over...
IA 2.6 mi Cinder
Nestled in the suburbs of Des Moines and traveling through the towns of Ankeny, Berwick, Pleasant Hill, and Altoona, the Gay Lea Wilson Trail is named for a local advocate who first conceived of a...
IA 20.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY 3743.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Heritage Trail rolls along like a dream for nearly 30 miles from the Mississippi River town of Dubuque to Dyersville, home of the movie set for Field of Dreams. Along the way it passes through the...
IA 29.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The High Trestle Trail is one of the most pristine and highly trafficked trails in Iowa—even at night. The trail’s popularity is largely due to its famous 130-foot-tall High Trestle Bridge, which...
IA 31.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Kewash Nature Trail winds for nearly 14 miles between the towns of Keota and Washington. These endpoints were creatively combined to form the trail's name. The trail has a crushed limestone...
IA 13.8 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Laurens Prairie Preservation Trail runs for just under a mile along an old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad line on the south side of town in the rural community of Laurens. The trail...
IA 0.8 mi Crushed Stone
Since 1994, the Little River Scenic Pathway has offered something for everyone to enjoy. Users can enjoy nature while hiking, biking, jogging or exercising at fitness areas along the trail or by...
IA 1.8 mi Concrete
The Mapleleaf Pathway is located in the small community of Diagonal, Iowa. The trail occupies an abandoned Chicago and North Western Railway corridor, which once formed part of a larger system that...
IA 1.5 mi Grass, Gravel
The Pleasant Valley Trail is a network of paved, multi-use trail that runs for over four miles throughout the rural city of Ida Grove in western Iowa. Sections of the trail follow the Maple River,...
IA 4.5 mi Concrete
The Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail follows part of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad corridor, which traces its origins as far back as 1866. Its history lives on in...
IA 20 mi Asphalt
On the western outskirts of Des Moines, the Raccoon River Valley Trail offers a quintessential central Iowa experience. Over its 89-mile span, you’ll traverse woodlands, prairie and agricultural...
IA 89 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Ringgold Trailway connects the eastern edge of the small city of Mount Ayr with Poe Hollow County Park, a little less than 2 miles away. The trail was built on a former railroad right-of-way, and...
IA 2 mi Asphalt
Accordion
The Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail travels nearly 4 miles along an asphalt path atop a former railbed once owned by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Starting near an I-80 on-ramp,...
IA 3.75 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Russell White Nature Trail runs for nearly 4 miles through a landscape of forest, pasture and prairie and links the tiny community of Lanesboro with open space to the southwest of the town. The...
IA 3.8 mi Ballast, Grass
The Sac and Fox Trail offers 7.2 miles of beautiful, shady recreation along the Cedar River and Indian Creek on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids. The oldest designated National Recreation Trail in Iowa,...
IA 7.2 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Sauk Rail Trail offers some of the best riding in rural, west-central Iowa. The paved 33-mile trail is capped at either end by a state park and offers a diverse mix of views and experiences in...
IA 33.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Shell Rock River Trail, also known as the Butler County Nature Trail, connects the eastern edge of Clarksville with the community of Shell Rock. The trail runs through open fields and at times...
IA 5.9 mi Asphalt
The Solon–Lake Macbride Recreation Trail runs for 5 miles between the scenic state park and the town of Solon to the east. The popular trail is perfect for cycling or walking and skiing or...
IA 5.3 mi Crushed Stone
The South Riverside Trail is one in a series of trail systems throughout Cedar Falls, Iowa. The trail runs between Main Street at the Cedar Falls Recreation Center and the Greenhill Trail just west of...
IA 3.5 mi Asphalt
The Spencer Recreational Trail traverses scenic wetlands and prairies on the outskirts of the small city of Spencer, offering users a peaceful, paved path along the Little Sioux River. The trail...
IA 10.5 mi Concrete
The Summerset Trail links the two central Iowa communities of Indianola and Carlisle, both of which have embraced the trail, including providing helpful signs at each end with clear directions for...
IA 12 mi Asphalt
The T-Bone Trail stretches nearly 20 miles between Audubon and Pymosa township in western Iowa. The paved pathway follows a former railroad right-of-way and offers beautiful countryside views. On the...
IA 19.6 mi Asphalt
The Three Rivers Trail runs for nearly 40 miles from the small community of Rolfe—named after the early English settler who married Pocahontas—to just west of Eagle Grove. The mostly rural trail is...
IA 39.9 mi Crushed Stone
The Trout Run Trail provides an experience unique to any other in Iowa, with a hilly landscape that reminds trail users of the meteorite that struck the area long ago. The trail actually loops all the...
IA 11 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Who says Iowa doesn’t have hills?! The winding route of the Volksweg Trail sticks mainly to the rolling hills and scenic viewpoints from Lake Red Rock all the way to the town of Pella. Dutch...
IA 12.5 mi Asphalt
Notice: On April 9, 2020, the East Nishnabotna bridge on the north side of Shenandoah was damaged by a fire. Over 50 feet will have to be completely torn off and rebuilt. There is no through access:...
IA 63 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Wapsi–Great Western Line Trail is a 27-mile pathway on the former Chicago Great Western Railroad. The trail passes through a plethora of backdrops, including wide, rolling landscapes, Iowa...
IA 27 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Waverly Rail Trail offers a pleasant, small town–meets-rural experience as it travels for 7.6 miles from downtown Waverly to its eastern endpoint north of Denver. It is also part of the Rolling...
IA 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Cedar Prairie Trail is an important component of the extensive trail system in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The paved pathway runs between the South Riverside Trail at Waterloo Road and the Sergeant Road...
IA 7.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Cinder Path in southern Iowa is notable as the state’s first rail-to-trail conversion. Following a shady route past farms and wetlands along the Chariton River between Chariton and Humeston for...
IA 13.5 mi Cinder, Crushed Stone
Running along a former railroad corridor in Linn County, the Grant Wood Trail is being developed in phases. The trail is named for the early 20th-century Iowa artist, perhaps best known for his...
IA 14.3 mi Asphalt, Grass, Gravel
Built on a former section of the Chicago Great Western Railroad (built in 1893), the Great Western Trail spans 16.5 miles from just outside of urban Des Moines southward to Martensdale. Begin your...
IA 16.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Harry Cook Nature Trail runs for 2 miles from the edge of the small city of Osage, Iowa to the city's public Spring Park. The trail, which opened in the early 1990s, occupies the bed of an...
IA 2 mi Crushed Stone
The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail traverses classic Iowa farmland along the former route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, also known as the Milwaukee Road. The trail transitions...
IA 25.8 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
The Iowa Great Lakes resort on the northern border with Minnesota is a longtime destination for fishermen and vacationers who arrived from big cities by rail. Dickinson County employed two different...
IA 14.3 mi Asphalt
The Lake Manawa Trail in Council Bluffs links the city's industrial core along US 275 with Lake Manawa State Park, a popular destination for hiking, camping, boating, fishing and swimming. In the...
IA 7.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Lamoni Rail-Trail, also called the Lamoni Recreation Trail, is a delightful route through the downtown area, with a side loop through the campus of Graceland University. You can begin the trail at...
IA 4.7 mi Asphalt
The Old Creamery Nature Trail, running between Vinton and Dysart, is so named for the Old Creamery Theater Company building in Garrison, another tiny farm community through which the trail passes. The...
IA 15.3 mi Cinder, Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Pine Lake Trail runs through a heavily wooded state park of the same name, which is especially known for its 250-year-old white pine trees. The trail begins at Deer Park, a half mile east of...
IA 2.4 mi Concrete
Central Iowa's Pioneer Trail—which gets its name from the early settlers of Grundy County—is built on a former rail line that once connected the towns of Holland and Reinbeck and the communities in...
IA 11.5 mi Crushed Stone
The Pony Hollow Trail in the northeastern Iowa city of Elkader offers a scenic route through woodlands and wetlands along the former Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad bed. The western half of...
IA 3.6 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
The Puddle Jumper Trail is a 2 mile long rail-trail that connects the western Iowa communities of Orange City and Alton. The trail is surfaced with crushed quartzite and also features a bridle path...
IA 2 mi Crushed Stone
The Readlyn Grump Trail offers a 6-mile paved path across Bremer County with views of open fields, several streams, and a bridge over Quarter Section Run. It begins at the terminus for the Waverly...
IA 6.3 mi Asphalt
The Rock Creek Recreation Bike Trail is a paved multi-use trail that provides a connection between the small, charming college town of Grinnell and Rock Creek State Park, a popular destination for...
IA 5.8 mi Asphalt
The Wolf Creek Trail begins in Gladbrook, a small city about 70 miles northeast of Des Moines. The trail was established in 2001 by volunteers from the Gladbrook community who secured the right-of-way...
IA 2.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Comet Trail is built upon an abandoned right-of-way of the old Chicago Northwestern Railroad. It runs for 7 miles between the town of Conrad (City Park) and just east of Beaman, traversing a...
IA 7 mi Crushed Stone, Grass
The Flint River Trail, when complete, will run for approximately 20 miles between downtown Burlington, Iowa, and the Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area in the northern part of Des Moines County. The...
IA 1.5 mi Crushed Stone
Iowa's Yellow River State Forest contains a sprawling network of hiking, equestrian and bicycle trails. The Paint Creek Trail, which occupies a segment of an abandoned railroad corridor, is the only...
IA 2.5 mi Dirt
The best place to begin the Trolley Trail is in Mason City in Ray Rorick Skate Park, located adjacent to the 81-acre Lester Milligan Park, which has two fishing and swimming ponds, hiking and biking...
IA 7.5 mi Asphalt
Running through a beautiful expanse of woods and fields just a short distance east of Denison, Iowa, the Wheels to Heels Trail offers residents and visitors to this western Iowa community an...
IA 3.8 mi Concrete
The Cedar View Trail provides a connection between the small cities of Fairfield and Libertyville in southeastern Iowa. A trailhead with parking and information on the trail greets users at the...
IA 4.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel
The Charley Western Recreational Trailway provides a useful off-road route around the outer limits of Charles City. Built on the site of the former Charles City Western Railway, the trail runs along...
IA 4 mi Asphalt
The Ed Winkel Memorial Trail runs for nearly 5 miles from the small town of Sibley in Osceola County, Iowa to just west of the unincorporated community of Allendorf. Offering a hint at much of Iowa's...
IA 4.7 mi Gravel
The Galloping Goose Trail is so called for the nickname of the old railroad that once ran through the area and upon which the trail sits. As of 2012, about 0.5 mile of trail have been built northeast...
IA 0.5 mi Ballast, Dirt, Grass
The Grundy County Lake Trail circles its namesake 40-acre lake, where outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, boating, and many other recreational opportunities. The paved trail then continues north,...
IA 3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Hubbard Prairie Trail is a one-mile rail-trail extending from the northwest edge of the small town of Hubbard in central Iowa to the Meier Wildlife Refuge. The refuge offers a pleasant place to...
IA 1.3 mi Crushed Stone
The Praeri Rail Trail runs on an old section of railroad right-of-way between Zearing and Roland in central Iowa. Sections of the trail near Roland and McCallsburg have a crushed limestone surface,...
IA 10.5 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
Although short, the Reumpers Nature Trail runs under a beautiful canopy of trees along the former Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Radcliffe, a small town in central Iowa.
IA 0.3 mi Cinder
The Riverside Trail (or Riverside Park Trail) meanders alongside Middle Raccoon River. The trail begins on Velvet Avenue and 320th Street in Coon Rapids, Iowa and wanders into the riparian woodland on...
IA 3.5 mi Asphalt
Charles City's Riverside Trail runs for a little over a mile along the banks of the Cedar River, providing gorgeous views and recreational opportunities, as well as access to several city...
IA 1.2 mi Asphalt
The Sergeant Road Trail is part of the larger trails system in the Cedar Valley region of Iowa, which includes the cities of Cedar Falls and Waterloo. The trail parallels US 63—also known as Sergeant...
IA 9.9 mi Asphalt
The South Tama Recreation Trail connects the adjacent towns of Tama and Toledo in Tama County, Iowa. The original section of the trail, a 1 mile stretch built on an abandoned railroad corridor, opened...
IA 5.6 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt
The Sweet Water Creek Trail provides an alternative way for Tripoli residents to access Sweet Marsh Wildlife Management Area without driving. The trail extends two miles from the heart of the city and...
IA 2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Iowa City's Sycamore Greenway Trail is a paved trail running alongside the Sycamore Greenway, a stormwater management system comprising a series of cells planted with native flowers and grasses, which...
IA 2 mi Asphalt
The Winnebago Trail provides the residents of Mason City with a safe, off-road link to nature, winding 3.7 miles from East Park and through residential areas to the Lime Creek Nature Center as it...
IA 3.7 mi Crushed Stone

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Recent Trail Reviews

Central City Trail (IA)

Very scenic and beautiful Trail!

May, 2023 by maria300

We rode this trail in late May, 2023. The concrete trail is very wide, and just a few slight hills when you reach the campground. It is great to ride along the Wapsipinicon river, and then through the campground itself. A wonderful addition to Central City! if you have your children with you, there are several amazing playgrounds with a rubberized surface, as well as all accessible swings, etc.!

Fairfield Loop Trail

Hop on this terrific trail…

May, 2023 by gpgqtw8pzh

I live just a couple of blocks from the Lamson Woods entrance and travel this trail ALL the time - biking and walking. The views and wildlife will feed your nature-loving soul. A section winds through the edge of the city, but very biker friendly. You can take sweet side rides through Chautauqua, Waterworks, and Jefferson County Park, as well as the Cedar View section. It includes both open and tree-lined portions and a few manageable hills. The trail is well-kept in all kinds of weather and shows off all four Iowa seasons. You can park and hop on this trail at more than a dozen spots. Do it!at

Fairfield Loop Trail

This trail is so diversified and beautiful.

May, 2023 by etmuehlman

This trail is so beautiful, changes seasonally, has so many different kinds of nature scenes ranging from pine forest to meadow to wild flower marshes. It is a dream for me to ride my bike on. I have spent many hours of this diversified nature trail. Thank you Fairfield!

Accordion

Heritage Trail (IA)

Loved it!

May, 2023 by allyn.dana

This was a fantastic trail, very compact crushed limestone rail trail through a variety of environments. From cliff walls to farmland and following a nice stream and all mostly shaded! I can’t recommend this trail enough. We rode from Sageville (we found no parking at the Dubuque end of the trail so recommend going to the trailhead in Sageville) to Dyersville and back. Heading to Dyersville is a slight incline which made the ride back to Dubuque a little easier. Bathrooms and shelters at several stops along the trail. If I’m not mistaken you cross over 32 railroad bridges- all well maintained! Will definitely ride this one again.

High Trestle Trail

Smooth as Silk.

May, 2023 by hsue_tl

We are going on to the Mickelson, but thought we would stop for the night in Iowa and take a ride. Very glad that we did. Came into Ames around 5:15PM. Saw that sunset was at 8:31 so we drove down to Madrid and went west to Woodward. The trip was short but we crossed the bride twiice and it was lit.

We parked in the Grants Woods lot outside Madrid, but the gravel trail is pretty steep in spots and rough, I suggest that if you park there, go back to the highway and go on about 500 feet where the Trail actually intersects it. There's some risk of car traffic, but we saw none. and you avoid having to walk up some steep gravel slopes.

Great Western Trail (IA)

Very Rough

May, 2023 by nvrcrywolf_1999

Rode the entire trail today. The ride is pretty however very hard to enjoy due to poor condition of the trail. The seams are very rough and major patch work though out the trail. First part of the trail from Water Works Park to Cummings, IA is not as bad but south of Cummings is very very bumpy. I hope there are some resurfacing upgrades scheduled soon. I would not ride it again. The Iowa Distillery in Cummings was a great stop.

Great American Rail-Trail

Great Allegheny Trail southeast of Pittsburgh?

April, 2023 by eshawger

Surprised to see this amazing trail that has great bed and breakfasts along it is not noted as part of the Great American Rail Trail. It sure would help demonstrate more GART completion if it was.

River's Edge Trail (IA)

Awesome Trail !!!

March, 2023 by t9pc25xqv4

The wife and I rode this trail for the first time on the first day of spring, going to be our favorite trail I believe! Start in Steamboat Rock and it’s a gradual incline most of the way to Eldora which makes it easy ride on the return trip. For us Golden age folks it’s a win win…

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

More work coming

March, 2023 by 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

Mahaska Community Recreation Trail

Great Trail

January, 2023 by mrchief09

I'm local to the area and ride this trail frequently. The trail is primarily paved concrete. There are sections of the designated trail which are also City streets; however, signs have been added to the route in the past couple of years to identify the trail.

The trail is relatively flat, with some areas of elevation, but not overly challenging for most regular riders. The trail is also designated as a recreation trail. Trail users include walkers, runners, bikers, electric scooters, and golf carts (limited to 20 mph or less). Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail; however, I have witnessed instances of individuals using them on the recreation trail.

Overall, this is a great trail and it's well maintained for the most part. I did have one instance of a collision with a golf cart on the trail. The collision occurred on a somewhat blind corner and resulted in my front tire rim becoming bent. The golf cart was driven by a young teenager. Unfortunately, city ordinances do not prohibit golf carts on the trail and do not put any restrictions on the age for golf cart users. Exercise caution when it comes to golf cart users on the trail.

C.R. Roberts Memorial Trail

dysart trail

January, 2023 by sgrell02

Has little work out things on side of trail, that’s pretty awesome for them to have.

JewEllsworth Trail

love it

December, 2022 by travelnurse413

Although short, it’s sweet! 3.5 miles of paved trail with a few benches scattered along the way to stop, reflect and just enjoy! Have ridden it multiple times, in all seasons, and it never fails to given me pleasure.

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