There’s nothing more relaxing than taking a walk or a bicycle ride near the water (or a waterfall) on a beautiful summer day. Iowa has many waterfront trails to explore on foot or by bike featuring beautiful views and plenty of sights to explore as you go. Here are 10 gorgeous Iowa waterfront trails for you to explore.
- High Trestle Trail
Flickr/Brood_wich This 25-mile trail passes through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward. Along the trail is a very cool ½-mile bridge over the Des Moines River. This bridge is one of the largest trail bridges in the world.
- Mississippi River Trail
Flickr/Daniel McDermott You can join this beautiful hiking and biking trail along the Mississippi at many spots in Iowa. Take in the scenic views of the river and wildlife as you make your way along the trail.
- Karr Nature Trail
Flickr/Tushar Dayal The Karr Nature Trail is near the Lake Red Rock area at Cordova Park. You can hike and bike this one mile trail along the Des Moines River.
- Iowa Great Lakes Trail
Flickr/Mary Fairchild This beautiful multi-use 14-mile trail passes through the Iowa Great Lakes region, including Spirit Lake, Okoboji, West Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Milford and Lake Park.
- Beach to Dam Trail, Lake MacBride State Park
Flickr/Mike Willis The Beach to Dam Trail offers a beautiful view of Lake MacBride, outside Solon. At the end of the trail, you can climb the mound that affords views of both Coralville Lake and Lake MacBride.
- Yellow River State Forest Trails
Flickr/Tony Webster The Yellow River State Forest is northeast Iowa near Harpers Ferry.There are 25 miles of wild trails that will lead you through woods, to amazing views from the bluffs and along Paint Creek, a tributary of the Upper Mississippi.
- Gray’s Lake Park Trail
Flickr/Michael Leland Des Moines has a total of 60 miles of trails within the city, along with trails that pass in and out of town. The Downtown Des Moines Trail Loop affords a beautiful walk or bicycle trip along Gray Lake at Gray’s Lake Park.
- Ledges State Park trails
Flickr/Carl Wycoff Ledges State Park is located near Boone, with a trail that leads to a beautiful gorge with Pea’s Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River.
- Trails around Clear Lake
Facebook/Clear Lake, Iowa Clear Lake offers several hiking and biking trails around the lake where you can enjoy the water on a beautiful afternoon.
- Pikes Peak State Park Trails
Flickr/John W. Iwanski While most of the trails lead you through Pikes Peak State Park, there is a 500-foot overlook spot at the end of the trail that provides spectacular views of the the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.
For more entertainment along the water, check out 10 Incredible Waterfront Restaurants Everyone In Iowa Must Visit.
Flickr/Brood_wich
This 25-mile trail passes through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward. Along the trail is a very cool ½-mile bridge over the Des Moines River. This bridge is one of the largest trail bridges in the world.
Flickr/Daniel McDermott
You can join this beautiful hiking and biking trail along the Mississippi at many spots in Iowa. Take in the scenic views of the river and wildlife as you make your way along the trail.
Flickr/Tushar Dayal
The Karr Nature Trail is near the Lake Red Rock area at Cordova Park. You can hike and bike this one mile trail along the Des Moines River.
Flickr/Mary Fairchild
This beautiful multi-use 14-mile trail passes through the Iowa Great Lakes region, including Spirit Lake, Okoboji, West Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Milford and Lake Park.
Flickr/Mike Willis
The Beach to Dam Trail offers a beautiful view of Lake MacBride, outside Solon. At the end of the trail, you can climb the mound that affords views of both Coralville Lake and Lake MacBride.
Flickr/Tony Webster
The Yellow River State Forest is northeast Iowa near Harpers Ferry.There are 25 miles of wild trails that will lead you through woods, to amazing views from the bluffs and along Paint Creek, a tributary of the Upper Mississippi.
Flickr/Michael Leland
Des Moines has a total of 60 miles of trails within the city, along with trails that pass in and out of town. The Downtown Des Moines Trail Loop affords a beautiful walk or bicycle trip along Gray Lake at Gray’s Lake Park.
Flickr/Carl Wycoff
Ledges State Park is located near Boone, with a trail that leads to a beautiful gorge with Pea’s Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River.
Facebook/Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake offers several hiking and biking trails around the lake where you can enjoy the water on a beautiful afternoon.
Flickr/John W. Iwanski
While most of the trails lead you through Pikes Peak State Park, there is a 500-foot overlook spot at the end of the trail that provides spectacular views of the the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.
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