Des Moines trail suggestions
08-25-13, 03:53 PM
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Des Moines trail suggestions
Mrs. Grouch and I have decided to take the kett train to Des Moines over Labor Day week end. The High Trestle Trail is a no brainer for one of the days. Which of the Des Moines network of trails would you suggest for another day?
08-25-13, 04:38 PM
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my husband and I did a cross-country RV trip last year and stopped to visit some friends who live just north of Des Moines. We camped at Saylorville Dam. Our friends live in Slater. We did some great riding on the trail network developed on the old train beds in the area. We used www.traillink.com A LOT on our trip to find riding trails. check out trails listed in the Des Moines area here: https://www.traillink.com/trailsearch...later&state=IA
Enjoy! It's a great area for biking! Of the 29 states we visited, iowa was the biggest surprise...not what we expected at all, and loved it there!
Enjoy! It's a great area for biking! Of the 29 states we visited, iowa was the biggest surprise...not what we expected at all, and loved it there!
08-25-13, 06:22 PM
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The Chataqua trail just outside Bondurant (ne DSM, 6 mi E of Ankeny is a decent trail. 32 mi one way to Baxter. The last 1/3 of the trail has just been resurfaced, evidently to repair longitudinal cracks that would make riding a road bike a little problematic. The surface is a very textured seal coat in this area and washboardy, but it is rideable. The weather is supposed to be hot and windy through next weekend, and only eases off a little through Mon.& Tue. The saving grace of this Rail->Trail is that it is shaded and protected from wind.
What is kett train. Google only referred me to British trains and wanted to make kett into kettering
What is kett train. Google only referred me to British trains and wanted to make kett into kettering
Last edited by rdtindsm; 08-25-13 at 06:27 PM.
08-25-13, 08:00 PM
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Try Google maps punch in Des Moines and then directions and click the bike icon.
There is one off 80/35 exit 125 or 6 by the Pilot Truckstop that is on my list to do.... Happy Trails
There is one off 80/35 exit 125 or 6 by the Pilot Truckstop that is on my list to do.... Happy Trails
08-25-13, 08:40 PM
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Yup. I've done that one both directions from the Pilot. I almost collided with a deer on the north end. I think that trail is called the Raccoon River trail or something like that. Too tired to look it up right now, but it was a nice ride.
08-26-13, 10:32 AM
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The trail to Saylorville Lake is closed. The trails in and around downtown Des Moines are pretty nice and there is plenty to do (and drink) in downtown DM. The ride down to Cummings is pretty and you can pick it up from downtown DM. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_Trail_(Iowa)
