A national agency recently recognized two local trails and the benefits they provide for central Iowa residents.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has designated 24 trails in 16 states as new National Recreation Trails, including two in central Iowa: Great Western Trail in Polk and Warren counties and Summerset Trail in Warren County. A third Iowa trail, the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area Trails System in Dubuque County, also received the designation.

The purpose of the designations is to “recognize existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life,” according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Over 1,000 National Recreation Trails throughout the country cover more than 12,000 miles. Iowa has 11 previously designated National Recreation Trails.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), a nonprofit conservation group that nominated the trails for their national designation, was a partner in acquiring both trail corridors.

“INHF is proud of the great trails Iowa has to offer,” said Lisa Hein, INHF Program and Planning Director. “Trails give people an easy and fun way to get outdoors and be closer to nature. The Summerset and Great Western Trails are special to many Iowans and they provide a key component in the growing network of trails in this region.”

Great Western Trail spans 16.5 miles of asphalt on converted railbed in Polk and Warren counties. It connects Des Moines, Cumming, Churchville and Martensdale. The trail is jointly managed by the Polk and Warren county conservation boards.

Summerset Trail, owned and managed by the Warren County Conservation Board, connects Indianola, Summerset and Carlisle. The 12-mile trail offers views of a wide variety of Iowa landscapes, including woodlands, large wetland areas, the scenic Middle River bridge crossing and prairie remnants.

These and other Iowa trails have sustained some recent flood damage. However, Summerset Trail and most of Great Western Trail are open (except for a northern section in Polk County). Check with trail managers about conditions before setting out. For updated closing and repair information on Great Western Trail, visit www.LeadingYouOutdoors.org or call 515-323-5300.

“The Warren County Conservation Board is very excited about the National Recreational Trails designation for the Great Western and Summerset Trails,” said Jim Priebe, Warren CCB Director. “It is a great reflection on the work we have done on these trails and gives us both the privilege and responsibility of maintaining and improving them in the future.”

Priebe added, “The WCCB would like to thank the people of Warren County and the Warren County Board of Supervisors for their support of the these trails, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation—particularly Andrea Chase and Lisa Hein—for their invaluable assistance with both projects, and the Polk County Conservation Board for their partnership in developing the Great Western Trail.”

Maps and information about these and 43 other Iowa trails are available at INHF’s “Iowa by Trail” website: www.inhf.org/iowatrails. The online trail list denotes all of Iowa’s nationally designated trails.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.