Great American Rail-Trail In Iowa

The first state in the nation to put the Railbanking Act of 1983 to use, Iowa has a long history of leadership in trail development. Its rich network of trails includes well-established pathways such as the picturesque Cedar Valley Nature Trail—one of the state’s first rail-trail conversions and the state’s Great American gateway trail—and the nationally renowned High Trestle Trail with its famous mine-shaft-themed art installation. These trails will join with dozens of other trails to create a 465-miles-plus route from Davenport to Council Bluffs.

Iowa is rich in railroad and western trail history, with Council Bluffs having served as the eastern terminus for the first transcontinental railroad and a stop along the 1804–1806 Corps of Discovery Expedition—now the headquarters for the 3,700-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Iowa stories along the Great American Rail-Trail

10 Unique Lodgings Along the Great American Rail-Trail

We highlight lodging along the Great American Rail-Trail, and history buffs can find more from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

How Council Bluffs Became the Eastern Point of the First Transcontinental Railroad

In the 1860s, Council Bluffs became the Eastern Terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad and today is part of Great American Rail-Trail.

Depot in Center Point Is a Trailside Landmark to Iowa Town’s 1914 Awakening

Home to a museum that preserves the stories of the eastern Iowa town for which it is named, the Center Point Depot is a key piece of history.

Century-Old Bridge in Brandon Is a Legacy to Iowa’s Railroad Heyday

After a 2008 flood along Iowa’s Cedar Valley Nature Trail, only one functional double-arched span bridge created over a century ago remained.

The “Great American” Route Through Iowa

Trails Along the Route

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Click the links below to view full trail descriptions on TrailLink.com.

Gateway Trail

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Experience America’s Heartland up close on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail through eastern Iowa. The 52-mile pathway, one of the first rail-trail conversions in the state, follows the beautiful Cedar River through agricultural fields and scenic swaths of prairie and wildflowers, while also connecting the urban centers of Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids.

Route Reveal Celebration

Completing the Great American Rail-Trail: Catalyst Initiatives in Iowa

In every state along the preferred route of the Great American, needs for completing the trail vary. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s national breadth of resources. (View the complete list of catalyst initiatives and criteria here.) Through these initiatives, RTC will support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational resources in specific projects that are critical to the ultimate completion of the Great American Rail-Trail.

Statewide Trail Funding

RTC will continue to support statewide advocacy efforts seeking to renew existing state trail funding as well as to create a $20 million annual state investment in trails via the Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. During the 2020 legislative session, RTC will work with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition in pursuit of these goals. In addition, RTC will work to ensure allocation of federal Transportation Enhancement funds toward Great American Rail-Trail priorities.

Great American Rail-Trail Preferred Route

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