INHF 25th Anniversary Event #8
Rough Riders Bike
and Equestrian Ride

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NOTICE: Please note on Event #8 that, due to flooding and delayed repairs, this event has been canceled for 2004 and will not be rescheduled for this year. However, it will be held again on June 4, 2005.

Saddle up your horse--or bike--for a ride on the Heart of Iowa Trail. Riders from both directions will meet for a picnic lunch before saddling up again to finish the ride. This event is one of eleven National Trails Day events in Iowa; visit our NTD page for information about other events.

Event details
This 28-mile, one-way ride is sure to get your blood pumping--whether you're on bike or horseback. It is called the "Rough Riders Expedition" because participants ride the entire trail, not just the developed sections of crushed limestone. Ride alongside long stretches of native prairie, and watch a variety of colorful butterflies flutter along the roadside. One of the highlights of the ride is crossing over the historic Hoy Bridge between Collins and Rhodes. Built in 1912, this concrete bridge is 212-feet long and 60-feet high. This ride is not a race, so take your time and enjoy the scenery around you.

You'll need to bring your own horse or bike for this ride. Equestrians will start from Rhodes at 8:00 a.m., while the bikers will start from Slater at the trailhead at 9:00 a.m. The two groups will meet in Maxwell for a picnic lunch of cold-meat sandwiches, chips, and drinks provided by the Story County Conservation Board. Shelters are available in case of bad weather.

As an added treat, participants are encouraged to join in the celebration of the new Indian Creek Bridge at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Maxwell after lunch. Equestrians will then continue onto Slater, while the bikers will ride to Rhodes. The bikers will then drive the horse trailers back to Slater to deliver them to the equestrians and pick up their own vehicles.

While there is some support offered, like water and transportation if anyone needs it, both bike and horse riders should be prepared to be self-supported. Off-road bikes are recommended since the trail is made of crushed limestone, but if you want to use a road bike, there are only a couple of miles of the trail that you can detour around. Pre-registration is requested, but not required. The event is free, though free-will donations are accepted at the picnic.

Check these sites for more information:
http://www.bikeiowa.com
http://www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/events.html

The story behind this place
The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is one of many former rail corridors that the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has helped convert to recreational trails. INHF purchased segments of the 32-mile corridor in 1989 and assisted in the trail planning. Story and Marshall County Conservation Boards continue to lead the multi-year effort to complete the trail's development.

As with many rail-to-trail projects, the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail protects prairie remnants and wildlife habitat (about 360 acres!) that survive amidst intensive agricultural lands. There are heavily wooded tracts near Cambridge and Maxwell and two wetland areas west of Cambridge.

This trail is a key link in the proposed trail system in Central Iowa. Connections are proposed to the Raccoon River Valley Trail on the west, the Highway 330 trail to Marshalltown on the east, and the Neal Smith Trail on the south. Once this vision is realized, the Heart of Iowa will anchor two 100-mile trail "loops" so you can end your ride where you began.

Partner Information
The Story County Conservation Board (SCCB) manages nearly 2,300 acres of parks and natural areas. The mission of the SCCB is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Story County by wisely managing our natural resources, by providing recreational opportunities, and by educating citizens to be wise caretakers of our natural environment.

For more information, write them at:
conservation@storycounty.com

Site Map
INHF's Trail Guide

Driving Directions
Equestrians meet at the south end of Main Street in Rhodes at 8 a.m. Take E63 or S52 to Rhodes. Bike riders meet at the Slater trailhead located on R38 (Lynn Street on the north edge of town at 9 a.m.)

Visitor Info
Ames Chamber of Commerce
(515) 232-2310
chamber@ameschamber.com

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