Bike rides in Iowa

Explore 9 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Iowa, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

9 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Ada Hayden Heritage Park — north-lake loop

  Ames

  1.4 mi · Loop

  Concrete lake path; gravel Upland Trail excluded.

  Ada Hayden offers a short lake circuit within a city park, with a defined paved route and a public parking area at the north end. Choose the north-lake loop for this outing. It gives you a manageable lap without extending onto Grand Avenue, the south-lake circuit or the crushed-rock Upland Trail.

• Bob Kerrey Bridge: Nebraska–Iowa bicycle return

  Omaha

  About 1.1 miles · Out and back

  Hard-surface pedestrian and bicycle bridge

  Walk through the plaza, then follow the main bridge ramp over the Missouri River to the Iowa landing and return the same way. Remain on the original bridge rather than extending into city streets or the new Baby Bob branch.

• Cedar Valley Nature Trail: short return from Hiawatha

  Hiawatha

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Hard-surfaced main rail-trail

  Follow the Cedar Valley Nature Trail north toward Robins. Turn after two outward miles or before the first road crossing, barrier or uncomfortable approach; retrace. Southward Cedar River Trail, distant Black Hawk bridges and the entire 68-mile regional system are outside this outing.

• Heritage Trail: short westward return from Durango

  Durango

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Compacted crushed limestone rail-trail

  Follow the main Heritage Trail west toward Graf. Turn at two outward miles or before an earlier road crossing, barrier, soft tread or uncomfortable bridge approach; retrace. Do not add roadside approaches or county mountain-bike trails.

• High Trestle: short bridge return from QF Lane

  Near Madrid

  About 3 miles maximum return · Out-and-back

  Paved main trail and bridge deck

  Follow the main trail west to the High Trestle Bridge. Cross slowly to the far, west end and turn, or turn earlier if wind, crowds or the approach is uncomfortable. Retrace to QF Lane. Stay on the bridge and main paved trail; do not descend riverbank paths or continue to Woodward.

• Principal Riverwalk: short north downtown return

  Des Moines

  Up to 0.5 miles return · Out and back

  Concrete riverwalk shared-use path

  From Rotary Riverwalk Park, join the west-bank Principal Riverwalk and head south. Turn back before Grand Avenue or after a quarter mile, whichever comes first, and retrace. Do not cross Grand Avenue, continue under Walnut Street, or take the northbound levee trail. This is not a complete downtown or Gray’s Lake loop.

  Short return north of Grand Avenue only. Walnut Street, Meredith Trail, the northbound levee branch and the Gray’s Lake loop are excluded. Obey temporary construction and event barriers; do not take a road detour.

• Raccoon River Valley: short westward return from Adel

  Adel

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Asphalt / concrete main rail-trail

  Follow the main RRVT west toward Redfield. Turn at two outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable tread; retrace. Omit the distant full loop and Perry–Woodward connector. The repaired Adel lighted bridge lies on the other, eastern approach and is not needed for this ride.

• Summerset: short northern return from Carlisle

  Carlisle

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main rail-trail

  Follow the main Summerset southwest toward Banner Lakes. Turn at two outward miles or before the first road, barrier or unsuitable surface; retrace. Stay north of the Middle River bridge and the later uphill / rolling section toward Indianola. Park lake roads and mountain-bike loops are excluded.

• Wabash Trace: short return from Council Bluffs

  Council Bluffs

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved crushed limestone with paved trailhead connections

  Follow the main Wabash Trace southeast toward Mineola. Turn at two outward miles or before an earlier road, bridge approach, work barrier or soft limestone; retrace. Exclude parallel horse tread, the long Thursday-night Taco Ride and unrelated city trail loops.