Iowa Fishing Trails and Maps

719 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

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
A Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame rail-trail, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail earns its title—providing an amazing trip through the rural forests and countryside of southwest Iowa. The trail...
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

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

Lots a twigs but overall great

April, 2024 by aeboe

Shenandoah to Malvern. We rode in significant wind (35 mph gusts). We could feel it in the openings and braced for it, but protected by the trees otherwise. Lots of twigs down and one tree down. Had to be mindful of what you were riding over. Surface otherwise was really nice. We were the only riders on the trail in April.

T-Bone Trail

rough asphalt

March, 2024 by 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.

Sauk Rail Trail

smooth trail

March, 2024 by lyonsjustin1958

We really enjoyed this ride. Since we rode in March there was not any foliage on trees or landscape. But the trail condition was smooth sailing all the way.

Accordion

Ottumwa Trail System

Lived in this town most of my life so I've walked these trails many times during spring and summer and always loved it.

January, 2024 by chriskumm29

Lived in this town most of my life so I've walked these trails many times during spring and summer and always loved it.

Linn Creek Recreational Trail

pretty nice

December, 2023 by 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.

Old Creamery Nature Trail

A great opportunity to get away from the stresses of modern life

November, 2023 by jkbalk

I've run on the Old Creamery Nature Trail several dozen times per year for over a decade. As trails go it is well kept, and was even resurfaced a few years ago. When there has been a lot of rain, or after a winter thaw, there can be some muddy areas but those tend to be minimal and are not very common. The Vinton side of the trail is usually in slightly better condition than the Dysart side. Both the Vinton and Dysart ends of the trail are bounded by open farmland. The middle section of the trail for miles on either side of Garrison is mostly wooded and usually provides a chance to spot some wildlife. I've frequently seen eagle, owl, hawk, pheasant, turkey, deer, fox, groundhog, possum, raccoon, coyote and occasionally even a person or two. My experience is that the section from Vinton to Garrison will have a few people on it about half of the time when the weather is nice, but Dysart to Garrison sees almost no traffic so it presents an ideal opportunity for solitude if you are so inclined.

Lone Tree Road Trail

Necessity to connect trails

November, 2023 by mann.ambere

Connects the Big Woods loop trail with Black Hawk Park. Well maintained and paved, the trail runs alongside Lone Tree Road in a straight line. It’s not shaded at all, so it can be a nice sunny reprieve from the wooded trails it connects, or sweltering, depending on the weather.

Iowa River Corridor Trail

Excellent Trail

October, 2023 by thekauz

This was a fun trail to ride. Almost 100% concrete, flat and fast. It’s a nice mix of woods, town and suburbs and some industrial areas.

Iowa Great Lakes Trail

Great Lakes Trail

October, 2023 by amy331

This is a wonderful bike trail that goes all the way around West Okoboji to the north taking the old railway—beautiful Iowa prairie with wild flowers, all the way to Spirit Lake. Then it goes south to East Okoboji, Hwy 71 with a nicely paved trail. Not always marked well but once you know the way, it’s a piece of cake. 26 miles around West and East Okoboji. We love it!

Raccoon River Valley Trail

Jefferson to Herndon rough ride

September, 2023 by 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.

Bear River Recreation Trail

Bear River trail 9/25/2023

September, 2023 by jamespglass

Up until this year my bike riding has been limited to mostly around town. A Google search came up with Bear River so I checked it out. Nice wide smith trail with plenty of shade, benches for resting and 2 different shelters with picnic tables. Been on this trail four times, not many people riding bikes. Most people walking. Trail goes to Preston. Hopefully they make it longer someday

Red Rock Prairie Trail

I had to drive around to find the parking for this trail. It's at the water tower...corner of Monroe and York. There is a Porta potty at the beginning of the trail. I don't see any shade but it's only in the 70s so going to give it a try.

September, 2023 by dansarani

I had to drive around to find the parking for this trail. It's at the water tower...corner of Monroe and York. There is a Porta potty at the beginning of the trail. I don't see any shade but it's only in the 70s so going to give it a try.

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