Great Western Trail — paved Des Moines return
Iowa · Rail-trail
From the north public trailhead across Valley Drive from the Izaak Walton League join the separated Great Western Trail south for up to three miles, then retrace. Stay on the main trail rather than adjacent traffic lanes or the Bill Riley branch.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Des Moines · Iowa
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Asphalt main rail trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Mostly former rail corridor with local ramps and road crossings. Wind and exposed farmland add effort.
- Starting location
- Great Western public north trailhead, Valley Drive near Park Avenue, Des Moines, IA
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Public named-place reference, reconciled with the manager-listed start. Explicit place coordinates, not viewport coordinates; no surveyed entrance or parking-stall claim.
Great Western Trail — paved Des Moines return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Great Western public north trailhead, Valley Drive near Park Avenue, Des Moines, IA.
County identifies this public trail access. Use only signed public trailhead spaces, not the private Izaak Walton League clubhouse lot; parking availability and event controls are not verified.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the north public trailhead across Valley Drive from the Izaak Walton League join the separated Great Western Trail south for up to three miles, then retrace. Stay on the main trail rather than adjacent traffic lanes or the Bill Riley branch.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Asphalt main rail trail. Mostly former rail corridor with local ramps and road crossings. Wind and exposed farmland add effort.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Polk County expressly describes the bicycle route to Martensdale, jointly managed with Warren County. DOT identifies asphalt. County and DOT whole-route lengths differ by approximately one mile; this short return does not depend on either total or promise a current whole-corridor all-clear. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.