RRV and Neal Smith Trails

Any comments about the Raccoon River Valley or Neal Smith Trails in Des Moines IA?

I have never been to those trails. However, I have been to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail that runs for about 65 miles in SW Iowa. It reminds me a lot of the Katy Trail section Boonville to Clinton where you get away from the river and have steeper grades. There are small sections around a few of the towns that are paved but the surface is similar to the Katy although generally a little less compacted.

On Sept. 15, they are running a 1/2 and full marathon on it from Malvern, Imogene, and Shenandoah, IA, which they hope to turn into an annual event. I will be there and would really like to see a similar event on the Katy someday.

Thanks SteveK, I also looked up the Wabash and was looking to see if it had any food along the way or lodging close to the ends.

I found fewer services in general along the Wabash than for many sections of the KATY. There was NOTHING opened in Blanchard (on the south end of the Wabash) when a buddy and I rode in there one Saturday afternoon about 1pm

Shenendoah has lots of services. We rode off the trail briefly and found all kinds of food and resupply (including a big Wal-Mart) if you need it. We ate at Subway, but there were MANY options there.

Also discovered that in the fall there are LOTS of walnuts on the trail. Had a few exciting times as we hit walnuts and the front wheel "jumped" a bit to one side or the other.

We stayed at a motel in Omaha before launching our ride from the north end of the Wabash.

Hope this is useful.

THanks but still looking about the Raccoon River Valley or Neal Smith.

I ride the Waukee to Redfield part of the Raccoon River Trail often and have ridden the whole trail several times...what info do you need? Or you could check out www.raccoonrivervalleytrail.org

We are in Missouri and looking for a weekend ride. Which end is best for lodging and food? Can there be overnight parking? Is there food/drink/water available in the towns along the trail? I have checked out the website and printed the map. Just looking for some personal opinions. Thanks Mark.

I would do Rocheport to Hartsburg and back. No problem finding food and water on the stretch plus it's one of the prettiest sections.

Pam:

If I ride the whole trail I ride from Waukee to Jefferson and then back the next day...if you just want a short ride out then back Waukee to Redfield or a longer then go to Panora...this is best section of trail IMO...Waukee is a decent sized suburb of Des Moines with lots of places for food and water. Overnight parking at the trail head should be okay but I've never done that but I have seen cars parked there at all hours(late evenings and early mornings). Looking at the map I disagree a little with the water availability in some of the towns. Ortonville...no. The depot in Redfield is hit or miss when its open...been by several times its not open:( the rest is accurate. Food/Restaurants/Conveience is available in Waukee, Adel, Redfield Panora Yale and Jefferson. Jefferson has opened a camping site at the trail head but I haven't used it yet so I can't say anything about the accommodations. More trees along the Waukee to Panora Section more open along the Panora to Jefferson(similar to Clinton to Sedalia of the Katy Trail).

Waukee to Adel is the busiest section of trail and less people as you travel towards Panora...most turn around at Panora.

Hope this helps a little...

Pam:

I also found this video on youtube that's not too bad - hits the high points of trail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DI3LN7tfVo&feature=related

Jim, Already have done that section many, many times. Ready for something new.

Mark, Thank you very much. That is the information that I was looking for. It is much appreciated it helped a lot.

We've ridden the RRVT a couple of times, once on the hybrids and once on the tandem road bike. It is somewhat different than the Katy both in that it's paved and its proximity to such a large cycling population in Des Moines. As mentioned the route between Waukee and Panora is busy, with road bike riders from the Des Moines end of the trail. They are a bit faster paced than the majority of the casual Katy riders.

We've parked the car(s) at the trailhead in Waukee overnite and not had any problems doing so. The restaurant just to the west side of the trail in Panora is a popular bike stop.

We are in St. Joe and have found it easy to leave of a morning and drive to Waukee and then ride to Jefferson for the nite, returning the next day. It's an easy weekend trip and would be from Independence too.

There are lodging options in Jefferson as well as several restaurants, and a grocery store within easy riding distance. There's an ad on the RRVT website for Trailside Lodging. We've stayed in their "Little House on Russell" a couple of times. It is a one bedroom house with a twin in the living room. It's just a few blocks ride to the main street with restaurants and a few blocks further north to the grocery store. We rolled into the grocery store on the tandem last year, did our shopping and walked outside and pointed to the rear panniers and told the carry out boy to just put the grocery bags in the trunk. He said Okay and then just stood there and looked at us like we were nuts as he watched us fill the panniers with the grocery items and ride off.

The RRVT is a very well kept trail. We found the Wabash Trace mentioned in an earlier post to be pretty run down. Only did the drive for that trail once and then moved on. The High Trestle Trail west out of Ankeny is a good paved trail that is worth the trip also.

Thanks Trek and Mark, now these are the things I have been looking for. I'm also looking at the High Trestle for an out and back. I just asked my husband about taking an extra day to do both. After doing the whole Katy Trail in June,and bits and pieces of it last year, we are just itching to do another trail in September. We have the Little Blue Trace in Independence and that seems lame now after the Katy. I see that the RRVT starts in Clive IA, and you both talk about starting in Waukee. Was there a certain reason why? Thanks again

The Raccoon Valley Trail lacks dedicated trail parking east of Waukee and the trail east of that point is a wide sidewalk on US 6. Have you check the trail website at www.raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/

It is a well maintained paved trail with a mix of farmland and woodland scenery once you get west of Waukee. There is a $2 a day user fee. By some point in 2013, a paved rail trail between Waukee, Perry, and Herndon will be completed so someone will be able to do a loop trail ride.

Yes Greg I have been to the website. That is how I found it. I found a youtube.com clip of the trail, each town, stop and conditions. I think we decided we are doing it. We found lodging in Clive and Jefferson. The next day we will do an out and back of the High Trestle. THANKS ALL

Good decision Pam. I hope you both enjoy each of those as much as we did.

Pam:

The RRVT does go to Western Edge of Clive then there is a connector trail to the Clive Green Belt Trail which an excellent trail to ride...with even more trees/canopy but is very winding and I mean winding. The design was set-up to prevent people from riding their bikes too fast on it. It can be extremely busy during the 'workout hours' in the morning and evenings. The Greenbelt Trail goes through Windsor Heights and part of Des Moines and then connects to the Bill Riley Trail in Waterworks Park and eventually connects to the Great Western Trail which travels South to Martensdale. All are great trails but I understand if you don't have time to see them all...just wanted to explain the RRVT connection to Clive. Have a great trip...

Thanks Mark. I saw on google maps the RRTV running into another trail and we can get to the hotel from it.
Next question, is there only one parking spot for the High Trestle or does anyone have a secret spot you want to let me in on?

No problem Pam....just paying it forward for all the hospitality I received down in Missouri while riding the Katy Trail. Can't help you on the parking for the Trestle Trail, that trail has been on my to do list but haven't been...

We parked at the trailhead in Madrid. It's on the south side of town on the east side of the highway. It's a short ride west of Madrid to the trestle so we did an out and back from the parking lot and after lunch we rode an out and back toward Ankeny. There is a restaurant/bar just across from the trail at the Madrid trailhead that was a popular bike stop.

Thanks Trek, the map doesn't designate a parking area there. That sounds like a better parking area cause when we finish our out and back we can eat there before we start driving back to Independence.
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