Great American Rail-Trail In Iowa
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.
Iowa stories along the Great American Rail-Trail
The “Great American” Route Through Iowa
The Great American Rail-Trail travels through Iowa from Davenport to Council Bluffs at the western end of the state. Iowa has a rich network of trails, and on-the-ground trail partners are critical to its thriving trail culture and the development of the Great American in the state. While there are currently more than 204 miles of trail gaps to develop, support for the Great American is strong across Iowa, which branded itself as the “World Capital of Trails” in 2024.
459.7
Total Miles256.5
Existing Miles203.2
Gap Miles55.8%
Complete
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment (2026)
The Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment 2026 defined the preferred route of the Great American Rail- Trail as more than 3,700 miles—with 2,086 miles of existing trails and 1,674 miles of trail gaps.
Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail Report (2022)
Investments could generate more than $229.4 million in visitor spending, $104 million in labor income, and $22.8 million in new tax revenue.
Trails Along the Route
Gateway Trail: Cedar Valley Nature Trail
The 68.7-mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail comprises three former trails—the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Cedar River Trail and parts of the Hoover Nature Trail—which merged under one name in 2017. The trail was named in 1980 after the creation of the original 52-mile section running from Hiawatha to Evansdale.
Among the first rail-trail conversions in the state, the original northern portion of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail traces the former corridor of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern Railway. As the trail travels through Cedar Rapids, it parallels an active Union Pacific Railroad corridor for several blocks until it reaches Cedar Lake. The entire Cedar Valley Nature Trail is paved, thanks to a $3.5 million grant from the Destination Iowa program to pave the final 16 miles between Hiawatha and Evansdale in 2024.
Government/Arsenal Bridge
The Quad Cities provide two trail crossings of the Mississippi River from which trail users along the Great American Rail-Trail can choose. The Government/Arsenal Bridge is a multimodal bridge that contains a bicycle and pedestrian element and crosses between Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa. View on TrailLink.
Mississippi River Trail/Riverfront Trail
The long-planned Mississippi River Trail (MRT) travels through Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa. The Great American Rail-Trail uses two segments of the MRT:
Segment 1 – a 7.3-mile section of Iowa’s Riverfront Trail heading southwest along the Mississippi River from the Government/Arsenal Bridge.
Segment 2 – a 1-mile section of the trail along state Route 22 in Buffalo.
Segment 1 currently ends with a loop around Credit Island Park, which was the site of a battle during the War of 1812 led by future president Zachary Taylor. Segment 2 travels adjacent to the Buffalo Shores State Recreation Area between Elm Street and 40th Avenue in the city of Buffalo, Iowa. Trail users can cross state Route 22 to access the recreation area, which provides overnight camping at the 65-site campground, as well as publicly accessible restrooms and water.
Running River Trail System
The Running River Trail System is a network of trails around Muscatine, including three segments hosting the Great American Rail-Trail:
Segment1 (RiversidePark)– 5.5 miles from Solomon Avenue and Keener Road to Musser Park.
Segment 2 (Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail) – 0.8 mile from the northern terminus of the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail to South Houser Street.
Segment 3 – 1.2 miles from the western terminus of the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail to the area near the Lutheran Homes on 231st Street.
Segment 1 travels through Muscatine, becoming a rail-with-trail for approximately 2.3 miles along the Canadian Pacific Railway line that follows the shores of the Mississippi River to Riverside Park in downtown Muscatine. Trail Gap 33, described on page 67, separates Segments 1 and 2.
Segment 2 starts at the northern terminus of the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail, a part of the Running River Trail System that opened in 2017. The 4.9-mile trail originates at a trailhead on Roby Avenue before traveling west through Kent Stein Park and south to Deep Lakes Park. The Great American Rail-Trail route will use 0.8 mile of the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail.
Segment 3 begins at South Houser Street, where the Great American Rail-Trail will diverge from the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail and head north on an existing path along Houser Street. The path along Houser Street is currently a narrow sidewalk, but it is not busy and is passable by people on bicycles moving carefully. At Hershey Avenue/231st Street, the Great American Rail-Trail will continue west through Trail Gap 34 to connect to the Hoover Nature Trail.
Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail
Deep Lakes Park Trail is a part of the Running River Trail System that opened in 2017. The 4.9-mile trail originates at a trailhead on Roby Avenue before traveling west through Kent Stein Park and south to Deep Lakes Park. The Great American Rail-Trail route will use 0.8 mile of the Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail.
Hoover Nature Trail
The Hoover Nature Trail currently exists in four non-contiguous segments between Conesville and Ely, Iowa, where it connects to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. When the Hoover Nature Trail is connected between Conesville and Ely, it will extend approximately 42 miles. The trail corridor lies on a former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor, and eventually could connect Cedar Rapids to Burlington, Iowa. The Hoover Nature Trail is named for former President Herbert Hoover, who was born in West Branch—one of the many towns through which the abandoned corridor passes. View trail map on TrailLink.
The four existing segments of the Hoover Nature Trail along the Great American Rail-Trail are laid out as follows (totaling 19.4 miles of open trail):
Segment 1 – About 8.9 miles of trail between Conesville and West Liberty. This segment requires significant maintenance to bring it up to the standard of the other segments of the Hoover Nature Trail.
Segment 2 – About 1 mile of trail in West Liberty.
Segment 3 – About 3.4 miles of trail between West Branch and Oasis.
Segment 4 – About 6.1 miles of trail between Solon and the Johnson–Linn county line (connecting to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail).
Gilbert Drive Trail
The Great American Rail-Trail will follow a side path along Gilbert Drive for a brief section between the Evansdale Nature Trail and the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. View trail map on TrailLink.
Evansdale Nature Trail
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail ends at River Road in Evansdale, where trail users can follow the Evansdale Nature Trail west at Arbutus Avenue. The Evansdale Nature Trail offers a scenic ride along Meyers Lake and through Angels Park, which features picnic shelters, water and modern restrooms. View trail map on TrailLink.
River Forest Road Trail/Cedar River Levee Trail
Cedar Valley Lakes Trail
The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail originates in Evansdale, where it was constructed atop the town’s Cedar River levee. After the trail enters the city of Waterloo, it briefly parallels an active section of Canadian National Railway corridor before traveling through downtown Waterloo. The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail travels through George Wyth Memorial State Park, a 1,200-acre park on the north side of the Cedar River containing various lakes and an extensive trail system. View trail map on TrailLink.
South Riverside Trail
The South Riverside Trail is one in a series of trail systems throughout the city of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The South Riverside Trail connects to the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail at the western end of George Wyth Memorial State Park and crosses the Cedar River on a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian bridge. The trail continues back to the east along the south side of the Cedar River, then stretches another 2.4 miles west across state Route 58 to the Cedar Falls Recreation Area. View trail map on TrailLink.
Cedar Prairie Trail
The Cedar Prairie Trail extends 8.2 miles between the South Riverside Trail and the Sergeant Road Trail, following the course of state Route 27. The path travels over gently rolling hills and follows the grade of the Chicago Great Western Railway’s Cedar Falls branch. The Cedar Prairie Trail passes suburban neighborhoods and light industrial areas before entering the Katoski Greenbelt, a tree-lined path beside Black Hawk Creek. View trail map on TrailLink.
Sergeant Road Trail
The Sergeant Road Trail travels 9.9 miles along Sergeant Road between downtown Waterloo and the city of Hudson along Black Hawk Creek. The trail is built on a railroad corridor originally constructed by the Wisconsin, Iowa & Nebraska Railway (also known as “The Old Diagonal”) in the late 19th century. There is a short on-road section in Hudson from Dale Drive to 5th Street. View trail map on TrailLink.
Pioneer Trail
The 10-mile Pioneer Trail—which gets its name from the early settlers in Grundy County—is built on a former rail line that once connected the towns of Reinbeck and Holland and the communities in between. The Pioneer Trail exists in three existing segments that are laid out as follows:
Segment 1 (Reinbeck) – 0.3 mile between the trailhead at the Grundy County Greenbelt to V Avenue in Reinbeck.
Segment 2 (Reinbeck to Grundy Center) – 5.9 miles between U Avenue in Reinbeck and the Wolfe Family Preserve on Diagonal Road in Grundy Center.
Segment 3 (Grundy Center to Holland) – 3.8 miles between 235th Street in Grundy Center and Main Street in Holland. The flat trail parallels Black Hawk Creek for most of its route and features several commemorative plaques with tributes to trail supporters. There are two short gaps in the Pioneer Trail.
River’s Edge Trail
The first sections of the Iowa River’s Edge Trail are complete and are laid out as follows:
Segment 1 – A 5-mile section of the trail is now complete between Steamboat Rock and Eldora, 4.4 miles of which were completed in the fall of 2022.
Segment 2 – In Marshalltown, the trail is open for 2.9 miles extending from the Keyser Street Trailhead at Wilson Circle to Radio Tower Road. Trail Gap 42, below, discusses plans to connect the Iowa River’s Edge Trail for 23.6 miles between Eldora and Marshalltown.
Linn Creek Recreational Trail
The Linn Creek Recreational Trail is approximately 10 miles in total and runs through the center of Marshalltown, Iowa. The Linn Creek Recreational Trail will host the Great American Rail-Trail for 3.2 miles, connecting to the Iowa River’s Edge Trail near Legion Memorial Park and heading west to connect to the Iowa 330/US 30 Trail. Most of this 3.2-mile section is a rail-with-trail, running within highway right-of-way alongside an active Union Pacific Railroad corridor, often separated by vegetation. View trail map of TrailLink.
Iowa 330/US 30 Trail
The Iowa 330/US 30 Trail stretches from the outskirts of Marshalltown to just west of the town of Melbourne, close to the geographic center of Iowa. The 11.1-mile trail parallels either state Route 330 or U.S. 30 for the majority of its length, providing a non-motorized option along a major thoroughfare. The trail connects to the Linn Creek Recreational Trail at the Grimes Farm & Conservation Center in Marshalltown. The trail currently ends at Gerhart Avenue, just north of U.S. 30. View trail map on TrailLink.
Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, currently in two segments, traverses farmland along the former route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, also known as the Milwaukee Road. The two segments include:
Segment 1 (Rhodes to Collins) – The trail begins on East Jefferson Street in Rhodes and continues west 4.4 miles through agricultural areas to a short gap in the trail between 730th Avenue and U.S. 65/1st Avenue in Collins (as described in Trail Gap 44, below).
Segment 2 (Collins to Slater) – The trail picks back up at U.S. 65/1st Avenue in Collins and, for the next 21.6 miles, connects the depot towns of Maxwell, Cambridge, Huxley and Slater. At Slater, the trail connects seamlessly to the High Trestle Trail.
The Marshall and Story county conservation boards are in the process of resurfacing the entire Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, and are close to meeting their goal.
High Trestle Trail
The High Trestle Trail is a nearly 26-mile trail that extends from the cities of Ankeny to Perry using a former Union Pacific Railroad corridor. The corridor was discontinued in 2003 and sold to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in 2005 with a generous donation of land value. The High Trestle Trail is famous for its 130-foot-tall High Trestle Bridge, which boasts an art installation wrapped in 43 twisting, diamond-shaped steel ribs lined with LED lights. The Boone County Conservation Board owns and operates the bridge. View trail map on TrailLink.
Hiawatha Trail
The Hiawatha Trail travels across Perry’s northeastern neighborhoods and provides a connection between the High Trestle Trail on its eastern end and the Raccoon River Valley Trail on its western end. View trail map on TrailLink.
Raccoon River Valley Trail
The Raccoon River Valley Trail runs 89 miles in total between Dallas, Greene and Guthrie counties, and its northern leg will host the Great American Rail-Trail for 12.8 miles. The trail provides a loop between just outside of the Des Moines area to the town of Jefferson in Greene County, connecting through several rural communities. The Raccoon River Valley Trail runs along a former Milwaukee Road corridor that was first built in the 1870s to carry rail traffic between Des Moines and the Great Lakes region. View trail map on TrailLink.
T-Bone Trail
The 19.8-mile T-Bone Trail was named for an event called Operation T-Bone Days originating in the town of Audubon, and it is a joint project of the Audubon and Cass county conservation boards. The trail was constructed on the former railbed of a spur of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad that extended from Atlantic to Audubon to carry cattle to the stockyards of Chicago. The northern terminus of the T-Bone Trail is in Albert the Bull Park in Audubon, featuring a 30-foot-tall cow sculpture. View trail map on TrailLink.
Northern Atlantic Trail System
The North Atlantic Trails System connects two major recreation sites in Atlantic. On its western end is the Schildberg Recreation Area, where 1.3 miles of pathway wrap around three lakes. Heading east across Troublesome Creek, the trail system connects to the Atlantic Municipal Utilities Well Field, where a combination of gravel and paved trails crisscross the open space. View trail map on TrailLink.
Avoca Trails
A short section of trail connects through Avoca along East High Street.
Railroad Highway Trail
The Railroad Highway Trail will eventually be a 16.7-mile trail extending from Neola south to Council Bluffs. The existing portions of the trail parallel Railroad Highway briefly through Underwood as well as between Idlewood Road and the Smith Wildlife Refuge Area. View trail map on TrailLink.
Kanesville Trail
The Kanesville Trail follows East Kanesville Boulevard as it enters Council Bluffs from the east.
FIRST AVE Trail
The First Avenue Trail follows a former rail corridor through downtown Council Bluffs, running parallel to West Broadway. The trail is part of a larger revitalization project that includes trails, transit and redevelopment.
The wide, paved pathway has a 10- to 12-foot-wide asphalt middle section with 2-foot-wide concrete shoulders on either side. The First Avenue Trail is similar to a linear park. Along the 3.2-mile trail, you can enjoy multiple public green spaces, shared seating and trail plazas located every few blocks. View trail map on TrailLink.
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge spans the Missouri River and connects the communities of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. The main span of the bridge was opened in 2008. It extends more than 1,000 feet and runs 50 feet above the Missouri River.
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge also has the distinction of being the longest bridge to span two states that is dedicated solely to non-motorized transportation. On the Iowa side of the Missouri River, the bridge originates in Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park and connects to the Iowa Riverfront Trail, which follows the Missouri River for 6.5 miles. View trail map on TrailLink.
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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.
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.
Great American Rail-Trail Preferred Route
