History of the High Trestle Trail

When I let my friend Kim know that my husband and I would be traveling through Iowa and would love to stop by for a visit, she and I both understood that a visit would indeed have to include a bike ride together. I let Kim do the planning and she didn’t disappoint when she proposed an out-and-back ride along the High Trestle Trail.

The High Trestle Trail is a 25-mile long rail trail running along the old Union Pacific Railroad corridor which was completed in segments, with the final section being the High Trestle Trail Bridge. The two paved sections from Ankeny to Woodward were completed in 2008, but the entire length of the trail couldn’t be enjoyed until the bridge across the Des Moines River joining the two segments was completed in 2011. Reaching almost a half mile long and 13 stories high, the High Trestle Trail Bridge’s unique architectural design has won its designers many awards and is the highlight of the trail.

 

About the Trail

From Ankeny to Woodward, the entire trail spans 25 miles one way. Our ride started in Slater, cutting the distance in half. With only 341 feet of climbing over 26 miles roundtrip, the trail is mostly flat. A  gradual 1%’ish grade leading from the bridge to the turn-around in Woodward was noticeable, but not enough to make it difficult. Paved, it was a combination of mostly concrete and some asphalt with the occasional side trail splitting off. Most sections were in full sun while a few areas took us under a canopy of trees. The trail wasn’t overly crowded which allowed us the ability to ride side-by-side and chat as we rode.

While we didn’t use a Ride with GPS route, I’ve included one very similar to what we rode (see below).

 

Ride Overview
  • • Ride Name: High Trestle Trail Slater-Woodward OAB 27m 600f
  • • Ride with GPS: Link to turn-by-turn navigation cue sheet
  • • Location: High Trestle Trail
  • • Start/Finish: Southside Park, Slater, Iowa
  • • Course Type: out and back
  • • Course Surface: paved
  • • Bike: Salsa Warbird
  • • Distance: 26.51 miles
  • • Time: 1:55:29
  • • Average Speed: 13.8 MPH
  • • Maximum Speed: 24.6 MPH
  • • Elevation Gain: 341 feet
  • • Elevation Range: 944 to 1,067 feet
  • • Weather: 79° and sunny, climbing to 84° (feels like 90°)
  • • Course Map:

 

Fun Pictures From Along the Way

Most of the following pictures were taken with my iPhone (affiliate link); however, a special shoutout goes to my husband who captured some of the fun with his Insta360.

Soon after starting, I whipped out my phone when we rode past a slew of silos situated  near a cornfield. The vastness of the cornfields and huge number of silos impressed this farm girl.

 

I loved the openness of the trail.

 

When we stopped in Madrid to use the restrooms and refill our water bottles, we took time to pose for some silly pictures.

 

Ten miles into our ride, we reached the High Trestle Trail Bridge…

 

A half mile later we were on the west side of the Des Moines River where we started a very gradual 1% climb to our turnaround.

 

Once at the Woodward Trailhead, we rested and refueled for about 20 minutes before making our way back to the bridge for more pictures.

 

More silos near the turnaround…

 

We stopped at the High Trestle Trail Bridge overlook for pictures…

 

Back on the bridge heading home…

 

View from the bridge looking the south…

 

View from the bridge looking north…

 

I couldn’t get enough of the wide open and flat green cornfields…

 

Near the end of our ride, we stopped at the Nite Hawk Bar & Grill for lunch. Even though the building wasn’t air conditioned, the huge fans felt great and brought welcome relief after being out in the hot sun and high humidity.

 

Before leaving, Kim and Herky the Hawk fist bumped for good luck for a winning football season.

 

Outside the bar there was a sign welcoming trail users to refill their water bottles. It’s too bad that I didn’t have a VeloPigs sticker to add to the other bike club stickers on the sign…

 

Back at the parking lot, Kim and I posed for a final picture before saying our goodbyes so my husband and I could take off on the next leg of our road trip.

 

Garmin Stats

Post-ride Garmin…

 

Garmin map and elevation graph…

 

Final Thoughts on the Ride

This was such a fun ride, especially since it gave Kim and me additional time to catch up. The weather was very cooperative blessing us with a beautiful sunny day, albeit hot and humid, but that’s to be expected in Iowa in July. I loved the scenery: wide open cornfields, multiple silos and granaries, huge tractors, and assorted farm equipment (my farm girl heart was swelling by the time we finished). Crossing the Des Moines River on the High Trestle Trail Bridge was the icing on the cake!

 

Questions:
  • • Have you been to Iowa? ~ This was my first visit.
  • • Do you have a favorite trail that you’d take an out of town friend for a run or bike ride on? ~ We have the W&OD Trail nearby which I took Kim for a run on when she visited a few years ago.
  • • Do you stop and relax occasionally to fuel or take pictures, or barrel on through when on a long run or ride? ~ Pictures, always pictures, unless I’m racing!

 

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I’m linking up with Zenaida of The Running Teacher and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday topics Link-Up. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!

 

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