Raccoon River Valley Trail

Trail facts:

Length: 56 miles
Surface: asphalt, concrete 4 miles south of Jefferson and concrete 5 miles south of Panora
Hours: year-round, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Fees: $2.00/day or $10.00/year for ages 18 and up; trail passes are available at county conservation boards or trailheads.
Counties: Polk, Dallas, Guthrie and Greene
Cities: Waukee, Ortonville, Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Cooper and Jefferson
Connecting trails: Clive Greenbelt Trail
Uses: hiking, nature viewing, biking, cross-country skiing, skating, snowmobiling (minimum of four inches of snow) allowed in designated areas of Polk, Dallas, Guthrie and Green counties, hunting in some areas

Courtesy of: Mimi Habhab/INHF

Much of the trail is lined with trees, giving trail users the feeling of walking under a shady canopy or tunnel. Open areas offer expansive views of the Iowa countryside—from agricultural fields to patches of native wildflowers and grasses. Many wildlife species can also be seen around the trail.

Trail overview:

• Trail overview map-natural areas highlighted
• Trail transportation map
• Local amenities

Trailhead maps on this site:

• Herndon and Cooper trailheads
• Jefferson trailhead
• Panora and Yale trailheads
• Redfield and Linden trailheads
• Waukee and Adel trailheads

Resources from other sites:

• Dallas County Conservation Board
  This site site covers four facets of the trail: accessibility, facts and features, history and a narrative tour.  No maps are provided.
• Guthrie County Conservation Board
  This site contains many trail photos, a small map, trail attractions, rules, safety tips, trail length, fees, management and contact information.  The site has a pleasant design and is easy to navigate. 
• Trails from Rails
  This site has lots of pictures and a map displaying the towns the trail runs through.  There is also a brief description and a list of each of the town’s amenities, such as hotels, restaurants and campgrounds. 
• Raccoon River Valley Trail Association
  This very informative site provides extensive information about the trail. Maps, fee information, trail events, news, history and other recreational activities are expanded upon. An overview of surrounding communities is also provided, as well as other links you can visit.
• Greater Dallas County Development Alliance
  Here you can find things to do and places to see in Dallas County. The trail is included in the outdoor recreation section of the site.

Trail managers
*Dallas County Conservation Board: 515-465-3577,
www.conservation.co.dallas.ia.us
*Guthrie County Conservation Board: 641-755-3061,
www.guthriecounty.org/gccb
*Greene County Conservation Board: 515-386-5674

Local tourism info
*Adel Chamber of Commerce: 515-993-5472
*Panora Chamber of Commerce: 641-755-3300
*City of Linden: 641-744-2032
*Jefferson Chamber of Commerce: 515-386-2155

Current news
Shelter Dedication in Perry. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, 10 a.m.
The City of Perry will host the dedication of the new Health and Wellness Shelter at the trailhead on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The trailhead is located at the west edge of the public parking lot at First Avenue and Willis Avenue. Healthy refreshments will be provided. Bring your bike for a ride, weather permitting. Members of the shelter committee will be on hand to answer questions. The Shelter was built with funds from the Iowa Department of Health, through a grant from the Center for Disease Control, with other support from the Dallas County Foundation, Dallas County Hospital and City of Perry.