Iowa


Iowa's High Trestle Trail | Photo by Milo Bateman, courtesy RTC
Iowa's High Trestle Trail | Photo by Milo Bateman, courtesy RTC

The first state in the nation to put the Railbanking Act of 1983 to use, Iowa has a long history of leadership in trail development. Its rich network of trails includes well-established pathways such as the picturesque Cedar Valley Nature Trail—one of the state’s first rail-trail conversions and the state’s Great American gateway trail—and the nationally renowned High Trestle Trail with its famous mine-shaft-themed art installation. These trails will join with dozens of other trails to create a 465-miles-plus route from Davenport to Council Bluffs.

Iowa is rich in railroad and western trail history, with Council Bluffs having served as the eastern terminus for the first transcontinental railroad and a stop along the 1804–1806 Corps of Discovery Expedition—now the headquarters for the 3,700-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.


The “Great American” Route Through Iowa


RTC’s route analysis defines the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail through Iowa as 468 miles and 54% complete—comprising 255 existing trail miles and 212 gap miles. The Great American will be hosted by 30 existing trails through the state. Click the links below to view full trail descriptions on TrailLink.com.

Iowa | Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail, 2022
Iowa | Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail, 2022 | Download report

Download Iowa Economic Impact


Gateway Trail


Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Photo by Nathan Houck, courtesy Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Photo by Nathan Houck, courtesy Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Experience America’s Heartland up close on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail through eastern Iowa. The 52-mile pathway, one of the first rail-trail conversions in the state, follows the beautiful Cedar River through agricultural fields and scenic swaths of prairie and wildflowers, while also connecting the urban centers of Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids.

View Blog Feature  View on TrailLink


Route Reveal Celebration


Live from the Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Iowa with the Black Hawk County Conservation Board


Trail Stories about Iowa


More Iowa

Be a Part of the Movement to Complete the Great American


Like you, we can’t wait to see the Great American Rail-Trail vision come to life—but we can’t do it alone. Help us reach 1 million pledges for the Great American, showing the strength and solidarity of the trails community.

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Completing the Great American Rail-Trail: Catalyst Initiatives in Iowa


In every state along the preferred route of the Great American, needs for completing the trail vary. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s national breadth of resources. (View the complete list of catalyst initiatives and criteria here.) Through these initiatives, RTC will support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational resources in specific projects that are critical to the ultimate completion of the Great American Rail-Trail.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Photo by Liz Zabel, courtesy GO Cedar Rapids
Cedar Valley Nature Trail | Photo by Liz Zabel, courtesy GO Cedar Rapids

Statewide Trail Funding

RTC will continue to support statewide advocacy efforts seeking to renew existing state trail funding as well as to create a $20 million annual state investment in trails via the Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. During the 2020 legislative session, RTC will work with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition in pursuit of these goals. In addition, RTC will work to ensure allocation of federal Transportation Enhancement funds toward Great American Rail-Trail priorities.