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Wabash Trace Nature Trail

Wabash Nature Trail

This article was updated in April 2010.

About this place
Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc. (SWINT) established this 63-mile trail through the Loess Hills, in partnership with the INHF. It took 10 years to convert this abandoned railroad corridor for use as a trail, but it was worth it. The trail has been frequently recognized as one of the nation’s best.

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail travels from Iowa’s beautiful Loess Hills to its southwestern prairies. The Wabash has gentle grades, beginning in the popular, wooded northern section and ending in the wide-open vistas of the southern portion. This limestone-surfaced trail passes through eight towns: Council Bluffs, Mineola, Silver City, Malvern, Imogene, Shenandoah, Coin and Blanchard.

With about 50 percent of its riders coming from outside Iowa, the Wabash Trace brings economic benefits to these towns and the entire area. Cities like Mineola -- which hosts a weekly Taco Ride from Council Bluffs during the summer months -- have learned how to draw riders to local businesses.

INHF's role
INHF purchased the railroad corridor when it became available and then helped local leaders raise the funds to pay for the land and its conversion to trail use. A state Recreational Trail Fund grant provided much of the funding, and more than 1,000 private donors provided the rest. Working with SWINT, INHF owned and managed the trail for over a decade. Today, INHF continues to own the Pottawattamie County segment, but the segments that pass through Mills, Page and Fremont counties are owned and managed by their respective county conservation boards.

What to do
Jogging and cycling on the trail are obvious choices, but other recreational activities are available including cross-country skiing, wildlife identification, picnics and dog walking (on a leash). Visitors can also travel the scenic byways through the Loess Hills and visit historic buildings and museums.

The area’s Taco Ride is a popular cycling event on Thursdays during the summer months. Visit http://tacoride.com/ for more information.

Location
The Wabash Trace Nature Trail has trailheads in Blanchard, Coin, Shenandoah, Imogene, Malvern, Silver City, Mineola, and Council Bluffs (listed geographically from south to north). For more information on the locations of these trailheads, please visit INHF’s Iowa by Trail site at http://www.inhf.org/iowatrails/wabash-intro.htm.

Site Map
http://www.inhf.org/iowatrails/wabash-2001map.htm

Tourism Info
Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 712-325-1000

Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 712-246-3455

Site partner
Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc is a private, non-profit organization made up of volunteers who are committed to recreational trail development. SWINT members organize all official activities and maintenance efforts on the Wabash Trace.

President of SWINT – Bill Danforth
Phone: 712-246-2591
Email: danforth111@mchsi.com