Prepare to Hit the Trails for National Trails Day

The first Saturday in June is recognized as National Trails Day, and in Greater Des Moines (DSM) we’ve got trails upon trails for you to explore. Whether you’re lacing up your running shoes, slipping in your earbuds and running a few miles or putting air in your tires to bike with friends, National Trails Day is for enjoying the sights and sounds along the region’s outdoor pathways.

Trails in Greater Des Moines

Travel Iowa’s list of trails in the state is extensive, but we’ve whittled the list down to a few of the must-see DSM trails, so you know where in the region to spend your time on Saturday, June 1. Walk, bike or even row down a local waterway:

• Carlisle Nature Trail: Located in Carlisle
• Chichaqua Valley Trail: Located in Baxter, Berwick, Bondurant, Ira, Mingo and Valeria
• Covered Bridges Scenic Byway: Located in Bevington, Saint Charles and Winterset (Note: Read our blog post on the Scenic Byway here.)
• Gay Lea Wilson Trail: Located in Altoona, Ankeny, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill
• Great Western & Bill Riley Bike Trail: Located in Cumming, Des Moines and Martensdale
• High Trestle Trail: Located in Ankeny, Madrid, Sheldahl, Slater and Woodward
• Jordan Creek Trail: Located in Des Moines and West Des Moines
• Linn Creek Greenbelt Parkway: Located in Marshalltown
• Middle River Water Trail: Located in Bevington and Winterset
• Neal Smith & John Pat Dorrian Trails: Located in Ankeny, Des Moines, Johnston and Polk City
• Raccoon River Valley Trail: Located in Adel, Cooper, Dallas Center, Dawson, Jamaica, Jefferson, Minburn, Panora, Perry, Redfield, Waukee and Yale
• Summerset Trail: Located in Carlisle and Indianola

You can view the full statewide Travel Iowa trails list here, as well as trailheads.

Other area trails that provide options for biking, hiking and more include Sycamore Trails in Johnston, more than 54 miles of trails through Urbandale and the 17-mile Volksweg Trail in Pella that follows the Des Moines River and boasts views of Lake Red Rock.

The Iowa Bikes Interactive Map, an awesome local resource for biking enthusiasts, showcases where to find regional and statewide trailheads, bicycle lanes, bike rentals, restrooms and paved or unpaved trails. In Downtown Des Moines (DSM) and at various B-Cycle stations in Clive, Windsor Heights and West Des Moines, you can find 200 bikes to check out to help you explore on two wheels. Download the app to rent one!

Need to find local shops with outdoor shoes, biking gear and services or fitness apparel? Check out the Greater Des Moines Partnership Trails Buying Guide. And to start National Trails Day right, grab a delicious breakfast at the Des Moines Farmers’ Market before heading to a nearby trail, too — it’s open between 7 a.m. and Noon in Downtown DSM’s Historic Court District. Might we suggest these downtown favorites? Take in the sunshine while enjoying The Principal Riverwalk, the Kruidenier Trail at Gray’s Lake or, just south of downtown, Easter Lake Park’s Mark C. Ackelson Trail.

Whether it’s a morning on the lake or an evening spent exploring Greater Des Moines’ (DSM’s) 800 miles of connected recreational trails, the region has many outdoor options. Don’t miss seeing the High Trestle Bridge, Terra Park or Principal Riverwalk — with attractions like Lauridsen Skatepark or the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden — all along walkways throughout the region.

Described as the “most transformational quality-of-life project of our generation,” the ICON Water Trails will connect 80+ improvements across 150 miles of waterways in Greater Des Moines (DSM).