Explore the best rated trails in Des Moines, IA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Galloping Goose Trail (IA) and Ashawa Greenway Trail. With more than 76 trails covering 4210 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Although short, it’s sweet! 3.5 miles of paved trail with a few benches scattered along the way to stop, reflect and just enjoy! Have ridden it multiple times, in all seasons, and it never fails to given me pleasure.
Awesome trail Uphill ride into Pella Don’t forget to stop at the Peanut Pub across from a great bike shop for a craft beer. Perfect experience
Lately, it is clear that, though, visitors enjoy these trails own by the city of Polk County and Water Works, there is a glim of sadness of cruelty going on throughout these trails. As The Polk County City Council and parks administrators have up to "pimp" the natural beauty of their wilderness to be destroyed by the hunting, bicycle, land-escaping and real state developmental business and brewing business.
The wild animals, forestry, waters, flora are being destroyed, in order to satisfy, not only the UNSATISFYING GREED OF THESE BUSINESS BUT THE POLOK COUNTY administrators in charge of it.
More and more trees are being cut down regardless if these are not ash trees, old. The fauna throughout these trails gets constantly injured and killed by visitors riding motorized vehicles and high speeding cyclist, drunk visitors shatter their beer bottles throughout the homes of these animals, there is trash allover, even next to trash containers! The are hardly any signs asking visitors to through their trash away, and hardly any available trash and recycle containers!!! These trails are NOT WILDERNESS FRIENDLY are poor managed by not protecting the wilderness from the increased amount of visitors that show not responsibility for their actions throughout these trails. There are not signs to caution visitors to keep safe wildlife and they need to post signs to help injured animals. Seeing animals being hunted by bow-arrow is the cruelest scene I have ever experienced, and my visits to these trails have open my awareness of the dark side of their management.
Visitors need to be conscious that there are living beings throughout these trails and that they need to be considerate of the wildlife safety in them. There is not need for land escaping, as their natural beauty is best God
I have no complaints about this trail. My husband and I rode from Ankeny to Woodward and back with no issues. 50 miles out and back! Mostly flat so be prepared to pedal continuously. We passed many friendly cyclists. We stopped at the Flat Tire Lounge for a bite and went on our way. The trail is very well maintained and has many places for rest stops, benches and port a potties, and self serve filling stations. Highly recommend this trail.
9/18/22: Rode from Cambridge to Slater. Fully paved on this section. Like others, I briefly lost the trail in Huxley - no signs!
We parked at the wonderful covered parking in Perry and took the trail 13.5 mile to Dallas Center. Great smooth paved trail! Mostly flat and easy because of that. Would recommend!
We have always enjoyed this bike trail. The views are great. We start in Carlisle and ride to Indianola and back.
However the trail seems to need some work to get it back in shape.
There are lots of areas that are rough. I hope it gets some attention soon. We would love to go back and try it again.
Need I say more. Lots of spurs. We are riding some of them tomorrow. We camped at cherry glen park
Daylight walk and ride in the rain were not enough. Went back for a night hike. Worth every minute.
Wish they would resurface cuz two thirds of the trail is extremely rough and takes away from the enjoyment. Has the potential to be outstanding.
A nice ride. The hub is a good place to start.
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