Iowa Riverfront Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A nice multi-use route with a mixture of paved trail and bike lanes as it travels along the Missouri River from the Western Historic Trails Visitor Center to Big Lake Park to the north.

From the Trails Center, follow the paved trail across a beautiful restored prairie and then turn north to cross under Highway 80. On the other side, travel along the bike lane on River Road until a sidewalk starts at the intersection with Nebraska Ave.

Just after the trail passes under a railroad trestle it circles around a large building near the river. Continue past the golf course and under Highway 480. At Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park you'll see the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge perched over the river. It's worth a detour just for the view at the center of the river, but the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters also sits just on the other side.

From the bridge, the trail continues along the banks of the river until N. 25th Street where a turn to the right crosses under the road on a series of crosswalks. Look for the paved trail to start again along Nash Boulevard and continue to just before the Big Lake Park entrance.

Deer and several different species of birds can often be seen along the trail and the restored prarie near the start has several types of wildflowers.