Iowa Fishing Trails and Maps

740 Reviews

Looking for the best Fishing trails around Iowa?

Find the top rated fishing trails in Iowa, whether you're looking for an easy short fishing trail or a long fishing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a fishing 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
40 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Bear River Recreation Trail

5.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Bergfeld Recreation Trail

1.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Cedar Valley Lakes Trail

16 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Dubuque Jaycees Trail

1.28 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

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

Green Valley Lake Trail

3.5 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Heritage Trail (IA)

29.4 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Kewash Nature Trail

13.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Mark C. Ackelson Trail

6 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Mississippi River Trail (Riverdale to Davenport)

14.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Ottumwa Trail System

10.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Pleasant Valley Trail

4.5 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Raccoon River Valley Trail

88.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Russell White Nature Trail

3.8 mi
State: IA
Ballast, Grass

South Riverside Trail

8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Spencer Recreational Trail

10.5 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Three Rivers Trail

39.9 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Trout Run Trail

11 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Union Bridge Trail

1.7 mi
State: IA
Concrete
Accordion

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

Harry Cook Nature Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Park to Park Trail

4.4 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Pine Lake Trail

2.4 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Pony Hollow Trail

3.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Rock Creek Recreation Bike Trail

5.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

4 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Comet Trail

7 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Grass

Competine Trail

0.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Lake Pahoja Trail

3.7 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Wheels to Heels Trail

3.8 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Dovetail Recreation Trail

1.3 mi
State: IA
Concrete

Evansdale Nature Trail

1.9 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Green Meadows North Trail

1.02 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Grundy County Lake Trail

3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Mill Creek Fitness Trail

0.8 mi
State: IA
Concrete

North Atlantic Trails System

5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Prairie Lakes Trail

3.4 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Riverside Park Trail (IA)

3.5 mi
State: IA
Asphalt
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
Nestled amidst the suburban landscape on the western outskirts of Dubuque, the Bergfeld Recreation Area is a 30-acre park with playgrounds, fishing spots on the Bergfeld Pond, and the Bergfeld...
IA 1.8 mi Asphalt
The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail follows a heavily wooded route along the Cedar River, passing Alice Wyth Lake, Fisher Lake, George Wyth Lake and Brinker Lake. The opportunities for recreation are...
IA 16 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Dubuque Jaycees Trail runs for just over a mile from Pyatigorsk Park (named for a Russian sister city to Dubuque) up to the 8-acre A.Y. McDonald Park, a popular fishing and boat launch spot...
IA 1.28 mi Asphalt
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 Green Valley Lake Trail is a developing multi-use trail around the perimeter of its namesake lake, located within the popular Green Valley State Park just north of Creston, Iowa. As of 2019, the...
IA 3.5 mi Concrete
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 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
It may be hard to believe now when you see children laughing on the playground and neighbors out on a morning jog but Easter Lake and the park that surrounds it sit on the site of a coal mine that...
IA 6 mi Concrete
The Mississippi River Trail in Scott County resembles the setting of a Mark Twain novel as it travels 13.5 miles along its namesake within sight of barges, riverboats, and marine-related businesses...
IA 14.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Ottumwa Trail System provides a scenic north-south route along the Des Moines River through the center of Ottumwa. Along the way, trail-goers can enjoy many of the city's natural treasures,...
IA 10.2 mi Asphalt
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
Closure Notice: A section of the trail from Linden to Redfield is closed until Spring/Summer 2024 due to bridge repair. See RaccoonRiverValleyTrail.org or the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association...
IA 88.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Muscatine’s Running River Trail System offers paved and unpaved routes crossing the riverside city. One of the most beloved segments sits right on the water’s edge: The Riverside Trail is 5.3 miles of...
IA 5.3 mi Asphalt
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 South Riverside Trail is one in a series of trail systems throughout Cedar Falls, Iowa. Starting at the northern endpoint in Cedar Falls, the first section of the trail runs from Main street at...
IA 8 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 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
Connecting the small Iowa town of Correctionville to one of Woodbury County's most popular recreation sites, Little Sioux Park, the Union Bridge Trail provides over a mile and a half of paved,...
IA 1.7 mi Concrete
Accordion
Overview The Wabash Trace Nature Trail offers an amazing trip through the rural forests and countryside of southwest Iowa. The trail stretches 63 miles from Council Bluffs (just outside of Omaha,...
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 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
So named because it travels between McKinley Park in Creston and Green Valley State Park to the north of town, the Park to Park Trail provides over four miles of paved, multi-use trail to help connect...
IA 4.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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
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 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 Cedar River Greenbelt Trail snakes along the west side of the river between Osage and Mitchell. The limestone trail is suitable for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding. The trail is open...
IA 4 mi 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 small city of Knoxville, about forty miles southeast of Des Moines, is chiefly known for the Knoxville Raceway and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, which draws racing enthusiasts...
IA 0.9 mi Asphalt
A concrete, multi-use trail that forms a loop through the Lake Pahoja Recreation Area, the Lake Pahoja Trail offers a nice pathway in an off-the-beaten-path corner of northwest Iowa. The 72-acre lake...
IA 3.7 mi Concrete
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 Dovetail Recreation Trail is a short community pathway that runs through developing neighborhoods in the eastern edge of the suburb of Coralville, just north of Iowa City. The concrete trail...
IA 1.3 mi Concrete
The Evansdale Nature Trail connects both residential and commercial areas in the northeastern Iowa city of Evansdale. One of the most charming aspects of the trail is the abundance of trees along its...
IA 1.9 mi Asphalt
Running through suburban neighborhoods on the western edge of Johnston, IA, the Green Meadows North Trail offers a pleasant dose of nature and serves as a great recreational amenity for nearby...
IA 1.02 mi Asphalt
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
*Please note: Flooding in September 2018 resulted in damage to the section of trail that crosses Mill Creek. Please check with local officials for current trail conditions* Linking the small, rural...
IA 0.8 mi Concrete
Just north of the small Iowa city of Atlantic, a sprawling network of concrete multi-use trails have been built, enabling cyclists and pedestrians to safely explore the lovely natural landscape around...
IA 5 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel
A lovely concrete and asphalt path that traverses through a pleasant, tree-lined corridor in the southern edge of Cedar Falls, the Prairie Lakes Trail offers plenty of means of recreation and serves...
IA 3.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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

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Recent Trail Reviews

Prairie Land Trail

Nice Peaceful Ride

July, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

The trail is gravel good enough to ride a road bike on. There isn't much shade or an amenities but very quiet and peaceful. It is being expanded to the south and I hope one day to the north to connect to other Mason City trails. I would recommend riding this trail and I will return here.

Traveling cyclist
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Big Woods Trail (IA)

Nice trail around lake. Then rode down to Cedar falls & follow S. riverside trail (west side of river) down to John Deere museum in waterloo. Round trip approx 20 miles.

July, 2024 by tv79moo

Nice trail around lake. Then rode down to Cedar falls & follow S. riverside trail (west side of river) down to John Deere museum in waterloo. Round trip approx 20 miles.

Mississippi Riverwalk Trail

very good

July, 2024 by sdd2fbcdqx

Not super busy and runs along side hotel. It has a very good view of the Mississippi River and it’s not very long

Accordion

Raccoon River Valley Trail

Great trail except for one section

July, 2024 by ltbike

This trail is mostly concrete and very smooth and pretty. Our favorite section is Yale to Redfield. The very worst section is Yale to Jefferson--I advise not even going on that section--multiple wide cracks, potholes, limbs hanging over the trail--we finally turned around and rode a different direction--we were at the Herndon TH/junction. Boo to Guthrie County for not maintaining their part of the trail. We camped at Springbrook State Park.

Duck Creek Recreational Trail

Having the trail link map helped since there are many on and off paths that look like the trail. Stay in your lane when busy. Will do this trail again. Very nice ride, plenty of bathrooms, and a nice pavilion at the west end.

July, 2024 by sparny1217

Having the trail link map helped since there are many on and off paths that look like the trail. Stay in your lane when busy. Will do this trail again. Very nice ride, plenty of bathrooms, and a nice pavilion at the west end.

Veterinary Medicine Trail

connecter

June, 2024 by hawkman275

It is just a nice flat connecter trail to get you under highway 30

Heritage Trail (IA)

Beautiful scenery and easy riding

June, 2024 by jessedirk

I have only made it from Sageville to Graf but it is a nice wide crushed stone path with gorgeous scenery from cool rock formations, rolling hills, and streams. Very smooth riding compared to other paths I’ve been on. I will definitely be returning hopefully to finish the trail west.

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

whitey

June, 2024 by whiteylewison

Very nice trail. Excellent maintenance. Wide variety of terrain ¿¿¿¿¿

Heritage Trail (IA)

Heritage Trail - Day 2

June, 2024 by kevin.gruneisen

June 21, 2024
Our second day on the Heritage was even better than the first; more wildlife. It was partly sunny, still hot, and we had a 5 MPH wind from the west, gusting to around 10mph. For this ride we parked at the Epworth parking lot and headed west to Farley. There was quite a bit of elevation on this 4 mile trip (344 feet), which was a total of 5 miles as we went into Farley for lunch. After, we headed east on the trail and went to the Graf parking area. The trail was the same as the day before, perfect. The total elevation on the after lunch ride was only 141 feet. When we got back to Epworth, we were disappointed to see someone hit one of our riders car that was parked there; no note, no nothing, I would have left a note to let the driver know if I hit their car. SMH. It was a bit of a downer to an otherwise great day. Kevin

Heritage Trail (IA)

Heritage Trail is a winner

June, 2024 by kevin.gruneisen

June 20 and 21, 2024
We explored the Heritage trail over two days in June. It was hot, partly sunny with a light breeze out of the west at 9 mph gusting to 15 mph. Day 1 we rode from Dyersville to Farley and return to Dyersville. It was day three in the saddle, so we took it easy and did the 12 miles in just over an hour. There was some elevation, around 250 feet going east. The trail started as asphalt but quickly turned to crushed rock/limestone. It was no issue for the group (one rider had a road back and all was good). This was perfect rails to trails. Covered ride, well maintained path and nature all around us. Was this heaven, no, it was Iowa. I highly recommend the Heritage. One PSA - the trail is not free. There is a pass required and there are several options. We took an annual pass and did not mind the donation. Enjoy the ride and I hope this helps. Kevin

Mississippi River Trail (Riverdale to Davenport)

Mississippi River Trail - Davenport

June, 2024 by kevin.gruneisen

June 18, 2024 (12:30PM)
We rode the river trail on the 18th of June. It was hot and windy (winds out of the East/South East @15 MPH gusting to 25MPH). We parked south of Davenport at the trail head on Credit Island and rode to the Pat and Jack Bush Scenic Overlook, which provides a nice view of the river. The total round trip was 16.6 miles, with a lunch stop at Front Street Pub in Davenport. The ride had very little elevation, about 25 feet. The wind was a big factor for us as was the heat. There is little to no protection on this ride from the sun. It is all out in the open. The path was very nice, clean and paved. Will do it again, maybe starting at Riverdale and go south.
KG

Mahaska Community Recreation Trail

Well maintained

June, 2024 by pampetersen22

The majority of this trail is well paved with a bit of street riding needed. Nice mix of park-like and country setting with small bits of hill climb. Was surprised to read a sign saying no fast biking allowed only to meet a golf cart on the path. Would highlight recommend this path for an hour plus ride.

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