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Rail line to become trail in Iowa

Current Projects

For each of these emerging trail projects, INHF is involved in securing the land needed for the trail. You can give to these great new trails through INHF.

  • Laurens Trail Connection

    Laurens Trail Connection

    This 2.2-mile former railroad corridor will extend the existing 1.9-mile Laurens Trail southeast of the City of Laurens. Both the planned and existing trail are part of the Pocahontas County Trails Plan, which seeks to connect the existing 40-mile Three Rivers Trail in Pocahontas, Humboldt and Wright counties. Once completed, the planned corridors will nearly double the trail’s length. 

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  • High Trestle Trail to Swede Point Park Connector

    High Trestle Trail to Swede Point Park

    This 2.1-mile connection between the High Trestle Trail and Swede Point Park High Trestle Trail to Swede Point Park will offer opportunities to enjoy breathtaking scenery, explore diverse habitat and camp along the Des Moines River Valley's east ridgeline. We are so close to realizing this vision. Help close the final financial gap of $150,000 on this $1 million connector trail today.

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  • Neste Valley

    Dry Run Trail 

    A mile of former rail corridor runs through 170 acres of woodlands and open space on Dry Run Creek. Besides being an attractive county park, Neste Valley will be a trailhead and a very scenic mid-way stretch for the envisioned 8-mile connection of Trout Run Trail in Decorah to the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail (Calmar to Cresco). This would connect a 43-mile trail system in Northeast Iowa. 

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  • Connector to link High Trestle Trail with Raccoon River Valley Trail

    Connector to link High Trestle Trail with Raccoon River Valley Trail

    This 9-mile future trail between Perry and Woodward will connect two of Iowa's biggest and best trail systems! This is the connection that everyone is waiting for. While this project is in its early stages, contributions now will help Dallas County Conservation match and secure public grants to kick off the trail.

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  • Iowa River Trail

    Iowa River's Edge Trail

    This 34-mile former rail corridor between Marshalltown and Steamboat Rock follows the beautiful Iowa River Greenbelt and connects with Pine Lake State Park. Through Marshalltown, this new trail will connect with the Highway 330 Trail and Heart of Iowa Trail. (Central Iowa through Hardin and Marshall counties)

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  • Coon Rapids to Herndon Trail

    Coon Rapids to Herndon Trail

    This 17-mile connection is the last link to connect the Raccoon River Trail to Whiterock Conservancy, a 5,500-acre outdoor recreation area! The Raccoon River trail is part of the Central Iowa Trail System, a 700 mile network of continuous trail in and around Des Moines that includes the High Trestle Trail.

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  • Farragut connection to Wabash Trace Nature Trail

    Admiral Trail

    This 4.2-mile multi-use trail will connect the City of Farragut to the 64-mile Wabash Trace Nature Trail in Shenandoah. The go-getter people of Farragut are working hard to connect trail users with their community, inviting them to explore Farragut's unique history, grab a bite at the Harbor Café and Marketplace and take advantage of trail amenities.

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  • Prairie City Trail

    Red Rock Prairie Trail

    The development of this trail extension, connecting Monroe, Prairie City and Mitchellville, is part of the long range goal of linking the Des Moines metro with Lake Red Rock and Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

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Give to the INHF Trails Program

Your gift helps to provide our leadership in strategizing, organizing, and promoting a wide variety of emerging trail projects. Often our INHF staff share their experience with volunteers and community leaders who have never tried to create a trail before.

Long after the land for a trail is secured thru INHF, we continue to be involved as needed with great trail projects like:

  • Another Test Article

    Ankeny Connection

    Purchase of 6 miles of discontinued railroad corridor will bring the High Trestle Trail through the heart of Ankeny and under Interstate 80, connecting to the Des Moines metro. This connection will run from Ankeny Market Pavilion Project (AMP) at Uptown through commercial, residential and business neighborhoods.

  • Another Test Article

    Iowa Great Lakes Trail extension from Superior to Allendorf

    37-mile, east-west trail will link with the growing Iowa Great Lakes system, bringing it within 5 miles of Sibley. (Northwest Iowa in Dickinson and Osceola counties)

Related Content

  • How to give

    Online: Be sure to note the "Purpose of Gift" on the "Directing Your Gift" section of the gift form. Give online now.

    Checks for project donations should be made payable to "INHF" with the project name written on the memo line. 

    Pledges for projects are also accepted, to paid over the next one to three years.

    All of your gift will support the named project, unless you provide additional instructions.

  • Want more information?

    We can tell you more about these trails and explore your trail interests. Contact Andrea Boulton, INHF statewide trails coordinator, at aboulton@inhf.org or 515-288-1846, ext. 27.