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Trail Day Essentials
Iowa is home to RAGBRAI, the week-long ride across the state, and it has built one of the best networks of paved rail-trails in the country. You can ride over the lit-up High Trestle bridge after dark, spend a weekend on the 88-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail, roll through the Loess Hills on the Wabash Trace or test your skills on the singletrack at Sugar Bottom.
We’ve grouped the trails below into four regions: Des Moines and Central Iowa, Eastern Iowa, Northern Iowa and the Great Lakes, and Western Iowa and the Loess Hills. Each card lists the trail’s surface, length and type, with a link to the map, directions and the official trail page. Late spring to early fall is the best time to ride, and several trails need a small trail pass, noted on the cards. For other states, see our full list of US bike trails, head north to the best bike trails in Minnesota or cross the Mississippi to Wisconsin and Illinois.
Iowa Bike Trails Map
All 16 Iowa Bike Trails at a Glance
Sort by any column or search by trail name, county or region. Lengths are in miles; click a trail name to jump to its details.
| Trail | Region | Counties | Length (mi) | Surface | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Trestle Trail | Des Moines & Central Iowa | Boone, Dallas, Polk and Story Counties | 31.7 | Asphalt, Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| Raccoon River Valley Trail | Des Moines & Central Iowa | Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and Polk Counties | 88.2 | Asphalt, Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| Neal Smith Trail | Des Moines & Central Iowa | Polk County | 24.5 | Asphalt, Concrete | Greenway |
| Chichaqua Valley Trail | Des Moines & Central Iowa | Jasper and Polk Counties | 29.7 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Great Western Trail | Des Moines & Central Iowa | Polk and Warren Counties | 16.5 | Asphalt, Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Eastern Iowa | Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan and Linn Counties | 70.6 | Asphalt, Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Hoover Nature Trail | Eastern Iowa | Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine and Louisa Counties | 27.7 | Asphalt, Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trails | Eastern Iowa | Johnson County | 12 | Dirt, Roots | Mountain Bike |
| Heritage Trail | Eastern Iowa | Dubuque County | 29.2 | Crushed Limestone, Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Trout Run Trail | Northern Iowa & the Great Lakes | Winneshiek County | 11 | Asphalt, Concrete | Greenway |
| Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail | Northern Iowa & the Great Lakes | Howard and Winneshiek Counties | 20 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Three Rivers Trail | Northern Iowa & the Great Lakes | Humboldt, Pocahontas and Wright Counties | 39.9 | Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Iowa Great Lakes Trail | Northern Iowa & the Great Lakes | Dickinson County | 26.2 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Wabash Trace Nature Trail | Western Iowa & the Loess Hills | Fremont, Mills, Page and Pottawattamie Counties | 63 | Crushed Stone, Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Sauk Rail Trail | Western Iowa & the Loess Hills | Carroll and Sac Counties | 33.2 | Asphalt, Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| T-Bone Trail | Western Iowa & the Loess Hills | Audubon and Cass Counties | 19.6 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
Des Moines & Central Iowa
The busiest trail network in the state: the lit-up High Trestle bridge, the 88-mile Raccoon River Valley loop, a lakeside ride to Saylorville and two rail-trails out of Des Moines.
High Trestle Trail
The High Trestle Trail runs 31.7 miles on an old railroad line from Ankeny to Woodward, passing through Sheldahl, Slater and Madrid on the way.
Its highlight is the 130-foot-tall trestle over the Des Moines River valley between Madrid and Woodward, framed by steel ribs that light up after dark. The trail is open 24 hours, so many riders go out at sunset and ride back with lights. Madrid and Woodward have bars and cafes for a stop.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 31.7 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Boone, Dallas, Polk and Story Counties
- Cycling
Raccoon River Valley Trail
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is one of the longest paved trails in the Midwest: 88.2 miles of loop and spurs from Clive in the Des Moines suburbs out to Jefferson, through Waukee, Adel, Perry, Yale and Panora.
Most riders pick one section rather than the whole thing. Small towns every few miles have food and water, so it is easy to plan a 20-mile ride between them. A $2 day pass is required for riders 18 and older, and recent reviews mention rougher pavement between Yale and Jefferson.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 88.2 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and Polk Counties
- Cycling
Neal Smith Trail
The Neal Smith Trail follows the Des Moines River for 24.5 miles from Des Moines north past Birdland Park and Saylorville Dam to Big Creek State Park near Polk City.
It is a greenway rather than a rail-trail, so expect short hills and curves, with views over Saylorville Lake in the northern half. In summer, finish at the beach at Big Creek. Low sections near Birdland Park can flood after heavy rain.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 24.5 miles
- Greenway
- Polk County
- Cycling
Chichaqua Valley Trail
The Chichaqua Valley Trail runs 29.7 miles on an old railroad line from the northeast edge of Des Moines through Berwick, Bondurant, Mingo and Ira to the small town of Baxter.
Highlights include an 1885 railroad bridge over the Skunk River and a restored 1913 caboose at the Baxter trailhead. There are few services east of Bondurant, so carry water, and reviews say the pavement east of Mingo is rougher.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 29.7 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Jasper and Polk Counties
- Cycling
Great Western Trail
The Great Western Trail follows an 1890s Chicago Great Western railroad line for 16.5 miles from Water Works Park in Des Moines south to Martensdale.
The northern end is busy and close to the city; further south it becomes a quiet ride through farmland and woods along the North River. The small town of Cumming, with a bar and a distillery, is the classic stop, and the trail suits an easy 10-mile ride or a longer out-and-back.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 16.5 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Polk and Warren Counties
- Cycling
Eastern Iowa
A 70-mile rail-trail between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, a trail to Herbert Hoover’s hometown, the state’s best-known mountain bike trails at Coralville Lake and limestone bluffs outside Dubuque.
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail runs 70.6 miles along the Cedar River between Evansdale, next to Waterloo, and Ely, south of Cedar Rapids, through Gilbertville, La Porte City and Center Point.
The middle section feels remote, with river views and long stretches of woods, while the Cedar Rapids section links into the city trail network. Some rural stretches are not paved, so a hybrid bike is a good choice. Storms sometimes bring trees down, so check for closures near Waterloo.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Crushed Stone
- 70.6 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan and Linn Counties
- Cycling
Hoover Nature Trail
The Hoover Nature Trail is a developing rail-trail across eastern Iowa. Today it is 27.7 miles of separate segments, the best known around Solon, West Branch and West Liberty.
Ride the crushed-stone section into West Branch to visit the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the birthplace of the 31st president. The Solon section is paved. Some rural segments further south are overgrown, so stick to the town sections.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Crushed Stone
- 27.7 miles (in segments)
- Rail-Trail
- Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine and Louisa Counties
- Cycling
Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trails
Sugar Bottom is eastern Iowa’s favorite mountain bike trail system: about 12 miles of singletrack beside Coralville Lake near North Liberty, built and maintained by the Iowa City Off-Road Riders (ICORR).
Most loops are one-way and rated intermediate, with log hops, switchbacks and rooty sections in the pines. There is a bike wash at the trailhead and a beach nearby. Stay off the trails when they are muddy, and check how worn your tires are before a rooty day out.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Roots
- About 12 miles
- Mountain Bike
- Johnson County
- Mountain biking
Heritage Trail
The Heritage Trail runs 29.2 miles on an old railroad line from Dyersville to Dubuque, following creek valleys past limestone bluffs and through Farley, Epworth, Graf and Durango.
Most of the trail is crushed limestone, with pavement at the Dubuque end. The Field of Dreams movie site is about 3.5 miles from the Dyersville trailhead. A small daily or annual trail pass is required for riders 12 and older.
Trail facts
- Crushed Limestone, Asphalt
- 29.2 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Dubuque County
- Cycling
Northern Iowa & the Great Lakes
A hilly paved loop around Decorah, a prairie rail-trail in the northeast, a long crushed-stone trail across three rivers and a lake-to-lake ride through Okoboji.
Trout Run Trail
The Trout Run Trail is an 11-mile paved loop around Decorah, in the bluff country of northeast Iowa, past the Upper Iowa River and the Decorah Fish Hatchery.
Unlike most Iowa trails, it climbs: switchbacks on the bluffs have grades of around 6 to 7 percent. Look out for the signs about the Decorah eagles, made famous by their nest webcam. Low sections on the north side can flood in spring.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 11-mile loop
- Greenway
- Winneshiek County
- Cycling
Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail
The Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail runs 20 miles on an old railroad line between Cresco and Calmar, through Ridgeway and Conover.
It is a quiet, flat ride past restored prairie, with wildflowers and butterflies in summer. Calmar has a restored depot and a Freedom Rock near the trail. In Ridgeway the route follows town streets for about a mile.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 20 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Howard and Winneshiek Counties
- Cycling
Three Rivers Trail
The Three Rivers Trail runs 39.9 miles across north-central Iowa from Rolfe to just west of Eagle Grove, through Bradgate, Rutland, Humboldt and Dakota City.
It crosses the West and East Forks of the Des Moines River and the Boone River on old railroad bridges, and a short spur leads to Frank A. Gotch State Park. The whole trail is crushed stone, so it suits a gravel bike or wide tires. There is no food or water for the first 16.5 miles out of Rolfe, and floods have closed sections in the past.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone
- 39.9 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Humboldt, Pocahontas and Wright Counties
- Cycling
Iowa Great Lakes Trail
The Iowa Great Lakes Trail links the lake towns of northwest Iowa for 26.2 miles, from Orleans through Spirit Lake, Okoboji and Arnolds Park to Milford.
The highlight is a 1902 swing railroad bridge between East and West Okoboji. Stop at the Arnolds Park amusement park or the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Parts of the route use streets and sidewalks, so keep a map handy.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 26.2 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Dickinson County
- Cycling
Western Iowa & the Loess Hills
A 63-mile trail through the Loess Hills to the Missouri line, a paved rail-trail between two state park lakes and a quiet trail through the farm towns of Audubon County.
Wabash Trace Nature Trail
The Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs 63 miles through the Loess Hills of southwest Iowa, from Council Bluffs to Blanchard on the Missouri state line, through Malvern, Shenandoah and Coin.
Most of it is crushed stone under a canopy of trees. On summer Thursday evenings, riders head out to Mineola for the popular Taco Ride. A $2 day pass or $20 annual pass is required. Water and cell service are scarce between towns, and soft spots appear after rain.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone, Asphalt
- 63 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Fremont, Mills, Page and Pottawattamie Counties
- Cycling
Sauk Rail Trail
The Sauk Rail Trail runs 33.2 miles between Swan Lake State Park near Carroll and Black Hawk Lake in Lake View, through Breda and Maple River.
Start at the bike-arch trailhead in Lake View and ride past wind turbines and farmland to the restored 1905 depot in Breda. With a state park lake at each end, it makes a good full-day ride. A $2 day pass is required for riders 18 and older.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 33.2 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Carroll and Sac Counties
- Cycling
T-Bone Trail
The T-Bone Trail runs 19.6 miles on an old railroad line from Audubon south to Pymosa, through Hamlin, Exira and Brayton.
Start in Audubon next to Albert the Bull, a 30-foot-tall concrete bull. It is a quiet ride through farm country with few services, and recent reviews mention cracked pavement in places, so wider tires help.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 19.6 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Audubon and Cass Counties
- Cycling
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