2004 National Trails Day
Events in Iowa

---

NOTICE: Due to severe flooding on key portions of the Heart of Iowa Trail, this event has been postponed until fall. The tentative new event date is Oct. 2, but watch this space for details.

National Trails Day is the first Saturday and Sunday of June. This year there are 10 events in Iowa! We've gathered most of the key information you'll need for each event, but remember to keep checking this page as we will be continually updating information. For more information about National Trails Day visit the American Hiking Society site. Also, INHF offers a free, downloadable trails list and one of this year's NTD events is also the 8th event in our 25-year Anniversary campaign.

Western Iowa

1. Nishna Valley Trails, Inc.
Celebrate the T-bone Trail; Saturday, June 5, 2004, at 10 a.m.

• Event: This event is for everyone, no matter the age or interest (hikers, bikers, in-line skaters, nature lovers, etc.). Baked goods and drinks will be provided at all three sites (listed below). There will be a treasure hunt for special water bottles hidden along the trail, some with gift certificates and prizes from local merchants. All events and general use of the trail are free that day. (Sorry, no horses or motorized vehicles allowed on trail.)
• Directions: The event takes place at three sites along the partially completed 21-mile rail trail between Audubon and Atlantic. One site is at the Cass County Trailhead located 1/4 mile south of the US 71 and I-80 interchange 60 miles west of Des Moines and 50 miles east of Omaha. Another at the Brayton City Centennial Park in Brayton 4 miles north of the US 71/I-80 interchange. The third is at Audubon's Albert the Bull Park on US 71 in the south part of Audubon.
• Read the press release here for more information
• Contact Info:
  David W. Chase,
  707 Poplar St., Box 496
  Atlantic, Iowa 50022
  phone: (712) 243-1663
  E-mail: dwc@cambridgelawfirm.com
  

2. Sauk Rail Trail
Bike around SAC County (BASC); June 5, 2003, 8 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m.

• Event: This is the 16th annual BASC, a family-oriented bike ride around rural Sac County. This year's ride will follow portions of the Sauk Rail Trail from Blackhawk Lake State Park to Carroll and back. Early registration (before May 21st) is $15; registration after that is $20. Registration includes lunch, t-shirt, and SAG privileges. Call the SCCB for more information or to receive a registration form.
• Directions: Registration and start of ride will be at Thirty Acres shelterhouse in the Blackhawk State Park campground area on the south side of Blackhawk Lake. Begin at Hagge Park, south of Sac City, head south on county highway M-54, go around Blackhawk Lake, back north to county highway D-46, east to N-28, north through Lytton all the way to D-15, west back to M-54, south into Sac City, and continue on south on M-54 back to Hagge Park.
• Contact Info:
  Shane Vondracek
  Sac County Conservation Foundation
  2970 280th St
  Sac City, IA 50583
  Phone: (712) 662-4530
  E-mail: saccocon@pionet.net
  URL: www.saccounty.org/conservation/index.asp

3. Wabash Trace Nature Trail
Fourth Annual Pancake Breakfast; June 5, 2004, 8 to 10 a.m. in Silver City

• Event: Celebrate National Trails Day by joining us at the Wabash Trace. The Silver City Fire Department will serve you breakfast before your ride or after. Serving starts at 8 a.m. All-you-can-eat pancake, sausage, juice and coffee breakfast will be served. Adults: $4. Children under 12: $2.50. Event will be postponed if rain threatens. The Wabash usually has daily fee of one dollar but will be free on National Trails Day. Also, trail passes and Wabash Trace merchandise will be for sale.
• Directions: Begin at any Wabash trail head. The breakfast is in Silver City, located on Hwy 242 about 14 miles southeast of Council Bluffs.
• Contact Info:
  Kathleen Barmann
  Phone: (712) 623-3788
  E-mail: kbarmann@mchsi.com

4. Sauk Rail Trail
Free Sauk Rail Trail Day; Saterday, June 5, 2004

• Event: Carroll County Conservation Board is celebrating National Trails Day by inviting the public to use the Carroll County portion of the 33-mile Sauk Rail Trail free of charge.The hiking, biking and walking trail winds through open prairie, forests and wetlands as it connects Swan Lake State Park to Blackhawk State Park.
• Directions: Swan Lake State Park is located one mile south of Carroll on Grant/Mahogany Avenue and 1/2 mile east on 220th St.
• Contact Info:
  Aaron Hershberger
  Phone: (712)792-4614
  E-mail: ccconsrv@win-4-u.net
  
  
  

Central Iowa

5. Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
Rough Riders National Trails Day; June 5, 2004, 8 a.m. (equestrians) and 9 a.m. (bikers) in Rhodes & Slater. NOTE: This is Event #8 in INHF's 25 anniversary events but has been postponed due to flooding.

• Event: Bikers begin in Slater and equestrians begin in Rhodes. The two groups will meet in Maxwell for a sack lunch (provided, freewill offering requested). There we'll celebrate the completion of 4.5 miles of trail with a ribbon cutting at the Indian Creek Bridge. Some SAG support will be available.
• NOTE: While this is a family oriented ride, it is not recommended for young children, unless you wish to do only short segments and provide your own transport back to the start. The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is almost all limestone surface. However, there are still about 4.5 miles on dirt off-road trail where mountain bikes are recommended and another 3 miles on gravel. A detour route for the section of undeveloped dirt is available, but 1.5 miles of gravel is unavoidable.
• Directions: Bike riders meet at the Slater Trailhead Park, which is located one block north of 1st Avenue on Lynn Street (R38). Equestrian riders meet at Rhodes Trailhead, located on the south end of Main Street.
• Contact Info:
  Carol Williams
  Story County Conservation
  56461 180th St.
  Ames, IA 50010
  Phone: (515) 232-2516
  E-mail: cwilliams@storycounty.com
  URL: www.storycountyconservation.org

Eastern Iowa

6. Kewash Nature Trail
Free Day on the Kewash; June 5, 2004, in Washington

• Event: The Kewash Nature Trail, which normally requires an user fee, will be free for the weekend of June 5th-6th during the open hours of the trail. The Kewash Nature Trail runs through woodland corridors and prairie remnants.
• Directions: In Washington, trailheads are located on D Avenue, near 5th Street and Out of Sunset Park, on H Avenue and Main Street.
• Contact Info:
  Pamela Holz
  Washington CCB
  Box 889, Courthouse
  Washington, IA 52353
  Phone: (310) 653-7765
  E-mail: conservation@co.washington.ia.us
  URL: http://co.washington.ia.us/departments/conservation
  

7. Cedar River Trail
Progressive Breakfast and trail day celebration; June 5, 2004, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. in Cedar Rapids

• Event: Participants can join in a free progressive breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. along the Cedar River Trail. There will be three food stops along the 8-mile trail route. At Greene Square Park (in downtown Cedar Rapids) there will be bagels, Captain Crunch, boiled eggs and juice. At Sokol Park (in Czech Village) there will be granola and Captain Crunch and at McLeod there will be fruit.
• Also there will be maps and brochures at McLeod Park. People and displays will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during that day to provide information about trails and future plans for trails in the Cedar Rapids and Linn County area.
• Directions: Hikers and bikers can get on the Cedar River Trail at several points. Parking is available near the trail just off Center Point Rd. NE, south of Collins Ave. NE and a bit farther south at McLeod Place, again off Center Point Rd. NE. Parking is also available mid-trail, in downtown Cedar Rapids.
• Contact Info:
  Nancy Craig
  Linn County Trails Association
  226 Revere Ct. NE
  Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
  Phone: (319) 329-2308 or
  Email: pncraig@mchsi.com or
• Ben Dukes
  Linn County (Iowa)Trails Association
  1302 Maplewood Drive
  Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
  Email: BenDukes@msn.com
  

8. Cedar Greenbelt Trail
National Trails Day Hike; June 5, 2004, 9 a.m. in Cedar Rapids

• Event: Our naturalist will lead Scouts and families along the first three miles of the Sac & Fox Trail, designated a National Recreation Trail by the Department of the Interior and a National Historic Hiking Trail by the National Boy Scouts of America. Learn about wildlife, plants and area history en route. Finish the last 3.5 miles on your own to earn a Sac & Fox Trail Patch. Patches will be available at $2.50 a piece. Groups must register by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 4.
• Directions: Directions to Indian Creek Nature Center, located on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids. From Cedar Rapids: Take Mt. Vernon Road east. Turn right (south) on Bertram Road. Turn right immediately after crossing the blue bridge. Go half a mile to a gravel parking lot, on your right. From Hwy 30: Head north on Hwy 13. Turn left (west) onto Bertram Road by the sewer treatment plant. Cross Otis Road and turn right into the gravel parking lot. The main building (a barn) is across Otis Road from the parking lot. Meet at the Cole Street Trailhead.
• Contact Info:
  Jean Wiedenheft
  Indian Creek Nature Center
  6665 Otis Rd. SE
  Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
  Phone: (319) 362-0664
  E-mail: Jvwnature@aol.com
  URL: www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org
  

9. Iowa River Corridor Trail
Iowa Coalition of Off-Road Riders' NTD Event; June 5, 2004, 9 a.m. in North Liberty

• Event: Participants will meet at the day-use area parking lot at 9 a.m. The day will start with reconstruction of a previously closed trail, adding 1.5 miles of trail to our existing system. Following trail work trail users will reconvene for a group mountain bike ride (casual, around 10 miles). After the group ride, ICORR will provide food and beverages for all who participated.
• Directions: From I-80 (Iowa City area), take I-380 (exit #238) exit north to exit #4 (North Liberty) Head east on what will turn into Penn St. Penn Street to Front Street, left on Front Street which turns into Mehaffy Bridge Road (county road F28). Mehaffy Bridge Rd. to Sugar Bottom Recreation area, turn right, follow signs to day use area.
• Contact Info:
  Derrick Stoll
  ICORR
  PO Box 423
  North Liberty, IA 52317
  Phone: (319) 369-7318
  E-mail: kkdstoll@yahoo.com
  URL: www.icorrmtb.org

10. Jefferson County Trails
The health and trails connection event; June 5, 2004, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Fairfield

• Event:This event includes a one-mile fun walk/jog/bike and a trail ride for senior citizens/physically challenged participants. Also, the new bridge and trail segment under construction will be viewable. There will be maps, trail and health information handouts available and nurses to take pulse and blood pressure readings and discuss health and exercise. Snacks, including fruit, trail mix, and drinks, will be provided. The events will go on regardless of weather.
• Directions: South of Fairfield on Hwy 1 to the Libertyville Road for 1/2 mile turn right (west) go two miles turn right on the Jefferson County Park Entrance, go 1/2 mile to the Nature Center and Trail Head (for the a.m. session). Afternoon go to Chautauqua Park on the East edge of Fairfield on US Hwy. 34
• Contact Info:
  Ron Meyers, Trail Technician
  Jefferson County Conservation Board
  2003 Libertyville Road
  Fairfield IA 52556
  E-mail: jeffersonccb@lisco.com
  
  
  
  
  For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.