Principal Riverwalk: short north downtown return
Iowa · Greenway
From Rotary Riverwalk Park, join the west-bank Principal Riverwalk and head south. Turn back before Grand Avenue or after a quarter mile, whichever comes first, and retrace. Do not cross Grand Avenue, continue under Walnut Street, or take the northbound levee trail. This is not a complete downtown or Gray’s Lake loop.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Des Moines · Iowa
- Ride length
- Up to 0.5 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Concrete riverwalk shared-use path
- Road crossings
- From Rotary Riverwalk Park, join the west-bank Principal Riverwalk and head south. Turn back before Grand Avenue or after a quarter mile, whichever comes first, and retrace. Do not cross Grand Avenue, continue under Walnut Street, or take the northbound levee trail. This is not a complete downtown or Gray’s Lake loop.
- Elevation
- Short urban riverside outing; slow at ramps, corners and activity areas.
- Starting location
- Rotary Riverwalk Park, West River Drive, Des Moines, IA
Chosen cap of 0.25 mile(s) outward and the same distance back; a named early turnaround or barrier shortens it. This is not a measured full segment. The parking/access walk is extra.
Approximate named public facility/access-area reference. Follow the guide to designated public visitor parking and the signed path; not a surveyed stall.
Principal Riverwalk: short north downtown return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-21. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
From Rotary Riverwalk Park, join the west-bank Principal Riverwalk and head south. Turn back before Grand Avenue or after a quarter mile, whichever comes first, and retrace. Do not cross Grand Avenue, continue under Walnut Street, or take the northbound levee trail. This is not a complete downtown or Gray’s Lake loop.
Start and parking approach
Start: Rotary Riverwalk Park, West River Drive, Des Moines, IA.
Use only signed public visitor parking on West River Drive near Rotary Riverwalk Park; check event reservations and posted terms. Walk from the lot to the riverside path. If visitor parking is unavailable, use lawful municipal parking and walk the bicycle to this start.
Distance and route
Selected ride: Up to 0.5 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Chosen cap of 0.25 mile(s) outward and the same distance back; a named early turnaround or barrier shortens it. This is not a measured full segment. The parking/access walk is extra.
From Rotary Riverwalk Park, join the west-bank Principal Riverwalk and head south. Turn back before Grand Avenue or after a quarter mile, whichever comes first, and retrace. Do not cross Grand Avenue, continue under Walnut Street, or take the northbound levee trail. This is not a complete downtown or Gray’s Lake loop.
Surface and effort
Concrete riverwalk shared-use path. Short urban riverside outing; slow at ramps, corners and activity areas. No surveyed maximum slope or accessibility certification is supplied.
Shared use and interfaces
Yield to people walking, slow at blind bends and junctions, and walk uncomfortable ramps or bridges. Follow the public shared-use path rather than service roads, activity courses or private land. Do not improvise a road detour around a closure. The selected distance excludes parking aisles and other connecting walks.
Hours, costs and current access
Choose daylight; obey park and lot postings. Trail hours and adjacent park hours differ. INHF lists no trail fee; municipal parking and events may have separate costs.
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation lists cycling on a concrete Riverwalk; the downtown partnership supports biking at Rotary Riverwalk Park. The selected short west-bank course stays north of Grand Avenue, away from Walnut Street and the previously reviewed Meredith/Gray’s Lake works. Reports of Walnut Street’s spring reopening do not establish Gray’s Lake loop access. ICON/levee works and temporary event controls can affect nearby branches; stop at any closure and do not follow a traffic-road detour.
Map reference
The marker is a labeled planning reference, not a surveyed bicycle entrance, parking stall or navigable route line. Use the written start and on-site signs.