Iowa Horseback Riding Trails and Maps

819 Reviews

Looking for the best Horseback Riding trails around Iowa?

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

City Trails and Maps in Iowa

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Activities
Length
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16 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

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

High Trestle Trail

31.74 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Mapleleaf Pathway

1.5 mi
State: IA
Grass, Gravel

Pony Hollow Trail

3.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

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

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

63 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

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

Paint Creek Trail (IA)

2.5 mi
State: IA
Dirt

Pioneer Trail (IA)

11.5 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Puddle Jumper Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

4 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Ed Winkel Memorial Trail

4.7 mi
State: IA
Gravel

Galloping Goose Trail (IA)

0.5 mi
State: IA
Ballast, Dirt, Grass

Praeri Rail Trail

10.5 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
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 High Trestle Trail, which spans 31.4 miles across Iowa, 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...
IA 31.74 mi Asphalt, 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 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 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 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, Nebraska) all...
IA 63 mi Asphalt, Concrete, 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
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
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 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 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 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 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

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Recent Trail Reviews

I-74 Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Path

74 new bridge

July, 2025 by 9jnrq4tyfb

This is a great view and look out. It now connects the Ia trail and Illinois trails it’s a good ride!

Old Creamery Nature Trail

Nice evening ride

June, 2025 by dvzvkff6jj

While this is not the first ride on this trail, it is a more seasonal ride. First and foremost, e we started in early spring from Dysart. The weather was not great, nor was the trail; very soft and potholes everywhere fire a mile. We turned around. Today however, we took some mild “advice” from another reviewer; started in Garrison and headed east. VERY well-maintained trail. Trail bed is wide, mature, manicured, etc. The substrate is very even and surface not lumpy nor pock-marked. While there were many branches overhanging the trail bed, the relief the wooded nature provided was very welcome in the summer heat. Very pleased, we’ll be back many more times to come. To this point, I foresee much opportunity in the winter with snowshoes and/or x-country skis.

Volksweg Trail

Very nice trail but numerous sections closed for renovations. Good it's being maintained. Work in progress as of 6/30/2025.

June, 2025 by browth1

Very nice trail but numerous sections closed for renovations. Good it's being maintained. Work in progress as of 6/30/2025.

Accordion

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

Great trail. Bring water.

June, 2025 by chad143

The trail is really nice. It is very quiet without any crowds. I rode from Council Bluffs to Shenandoah and only saw a few people on the entire trail. One thing that surprised me was how little water was available on the trail. In rode 45 miles of the trail and did not see a single water fountain or bottle filler the entire time. I had to buy water at Casey’s to fill my bottles.

Neal Smith Trail

Nice trail…

June, 2025 by curry.kevin27

Rode from Sycamore Trails (NW 66th St.) north to Big Creek Beach & Marina and back, ~33 miles round trip. Beautiful scenery, saw deer and other wildlife, many bridges, pretty smooth concrete and asphalt track. More bumpy in the state park than the other sections. Much of the trail was shady, which was appreciated on this hot, muggy day.

Volksweg Trail

Sections of the trail are being closed for resurfacing. They replaced the blacktop to Ivan's campground with cement which is a massive improvement. Glad to see this beautiful trail being maintained.

June, 2025 by schuckj88

Sections of the trail are being closed for resurfacing. They replaced the blacktop to Ivan's campground with cement which is a massive improvement. Glad to see this beautiful trail being maintained.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Super trail!

June, 2025 by dpate

I rode the length of this trail many years ago. I recently in mid June 2025 rode from Center Point to the outskirts of Cedar Rapids. I was surprised that it was glass smooth asphalt ( I was expecting crushed stone as it was when I rode it before) the whole 12 or 13 miles. One of the best trails in Iowa. 5 stars! Traveling cyclist Facebook

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

debris covered

June, 2025 by lilbirdsmom

Super windy this week. Tree down covering trail at Malvern so we went the other direction. Lots of twigs and branches down that way too. Ride with caution.

High Trestle Trail

Wonderful trail. The bridge is amazing. Make sure you ride it at night when it's lit up!

June, 2025 by jhicok_tl

Wonderful trail. The bridge is amazing. Make sure you ride it at night when it's lit up!

High Trestle Trail

epic ride

June, 2025 by sciteach5759_tl

We rode this as part of a 3 state Midwest trip. This was our first ride. We loved the trail, the historical information, the scenery, and the workout! We went back at night and walked the bridge end to end in a nearly full moon. The lit up part of the bridge was worth the trip back. A must-do ride!

Cinder Path

A Hidden Gem in Southern Iowa: The Cinder Path Delivers Every Time

June, 2025 by vfletch5

The Cinder Path is one of Iowa’s hidden gems. I’ve ridden trails all over the state and Midwest, and this is still one of my favorites. It’s in great shape—smooth, fast, and well-maintained, with solid bridges and beautiful scenery. The covered bridge is a standout feature, and the rustic, unpaved surface adds to its charm. It’s quiet, remote, and feels like a true escape into nature. The communities of Chariton, Derby, and Humeston are lucky to have it.

This is not a MTB trail but also isn't a paved bike trail. I've ridden it after heavy rain and it was fine, road it last week in some light rain and it was in great shape. Grass section near Humeston was in good shape and not overgrown.

The trail is in the best shape I've ever seen it and I would recommend this to anyone.

First Ave Trail

It's a nice smooth surface. I have read reports of issues with inappropriate activities by homeless but it has been relatively quiet each time we've taken it.

June, 2025 by mdhbmv1

It's a nice smooth surface. I have read reports of issues with inappropriate activities by homeless but it has been relatively quiet each time we've taken it.

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