High Trestle Trail

Last updated
High Trestle Trail
High Trestle Trail Bridge.jpg
High Trestle Trail Bridge
Length25 mi (40 km)
LocationCentral Iowa, United States
Trailheads Ankeny
Sheldahl
Slater
Madrid
Woodward
UseHiking, biking, equestrian (between Slater and the Des Moines River, and the Des Moines River to Woodward, but not on the bridge itself)
Surface Asphalt / concrete
Right of way Local governments and/or groups, on land formerly owned by Union Pacific Railroad [1]
Trail map

Contents

Legend
BSicon fKBHFa.svg
 Ankeny
BSicon BUILDING.svg
BSicon fSTR.svg
Trail Oasis
BSicon fBHF.svg
 Sheldahl
BSicon fBHF.svg
 Slater
BSicon fCONTgq.svg
BSicon fABZgr.svg
 Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon fBHF.svg
 Madrid
BSicon fhKRZWae.svg
 Des Moines River
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon fBHF.svg
 Woodward
BSicon fexCONTf.svg
 Raccoon River Valley Trail
This diagram:

High Trestle Trail is a rail trail running from Ankeny to Woodward in central Iowa. [2] The recreation trail opened on April 30, 2011. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] It is a paved recreational trail that runs through the Polk, Story, Boone, and Dallas counties. The trail's name is derived from a former 1913 bridge that spanned the Des Moines River between the towns of Madrid and Woodward.

Conservation board directors and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation estimate that more than 3,000 people use this trail each week. [8] The trail is a major component of a planned pair of 100-mile (160 km) loops that will meet near Des Moines. [1] [9]

Development

The High Trestle Trail follows the route of a former Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) freight line between Woodward and Ankeny, Iowa. UPRR first proposed retiring the line in 2003. The lowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), which had organized other rail-trail projects in Iowa, bought the 439 acres (178 ha) corridor from UPRR in 2005. As part of the transaction, UPRR donated over $3 million of land value. INHF then transferred sections of the land to partner agencies in the five cities and four counties within the corridor.

Construction on the trail, designed by engineering firm Snyder and Associates, Inc. began in early 2006 to include 1,010 feet (310 m) of trail in Woodward. In 2007, bookend projects in Woodward and Ankeny were constructed. The catalyst for construction came from a $5.6 million Congressional appropriation in 2005. With the help of additional state and federal grants, 20 additional miles of trail were completed and opened to the public in 2008.

The last portion to be completed was the high bridge over the Des Moines River. A $1.75 million grant from Vision Iowa, a project of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, helped fund the construction of a new bridge superstructure designed by Shuck-Britson, Inc., and artwork by RDG Dahlquist Art Studio. The project was officially completed with the grand opening of the bridge in April 2011. [10] Following its completion, the trail was awarded a Mid American Energy Trails and Greenways project award that October. [8] [11]

Trestle bridge

High Trestle Bridge at night High Trestle Bridge at Night - Iowa (24189757769).jpg
High Trestle Bridge at night

The 13-story-high (40-meter) and nearly half-mile-long (770-meter) trestle bridge provides scenic views of the Des Moines River Valley [12] and is located near mining shafts that were worked by Italian immigrant families and others who settled nearby. [13] The bridge decking incorporates a decorative structure that represents the view through a mine shaft, [13] [14] [15] [16] and its design includes decorative lighting that remains on until 10:30 pm in the summer and 9:00 pm in the winter. [5] [6] [17]

The bridge was originally built in the 1970s to carry rail traffic on a Milwaukee Road line. With the retirement of that rail line in the early 2000s, the original bridge deck was removed, and its steel I-beams were reused for a new Union Pacific bridge in Boone. [18] However, the piers (or trestles) remained in place, and the original piers now support a new deck designed for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Between the removal of the original decking and the construction of its replacement, the single-file line of unconnected concrete piers was informally known as "Iowa's Stonehenge". [10]

On April 2, 2015, the BBC showcased the High Trestle Trail Bridge as part of a globe-spanning collection of eight eye-catching footbridges. [19]

Trailheads

These are the trailheads: [20]

Connections to other recreational trails

The High Trestle Trail connects at Slater to the 32-mile (51 km) Heart of Iowa Nature Trail in Story and Marshall counties. A connection to Des Moines is planned via Big Creek State Park and the 26-mile (42 km) Neal Smith Trail. [5] [6] [17] [21] [22] A third connection is planned between Woodward and Perry to the 90-mile (140 km) Raccoon River Valley Trail. [17]

The High Trestle Trail lies between two 100-mile (160 km) recreational trail loops near Des Moines. The western loop involves the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the Clive Greenbelt Trail. The eastern loop includes the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, the Chichaqua Valley Trail and the Gay Lea Wilson Trail. [20]

As of May 2021, a spur trail is planned to connect the High Trestle Trail from Woodward through Granger to the 1,834-acre (742 ha) Jester Park located along the western shore of the 5,950-acre (2,408 ha) Saylorville Lake. The 17-mile (27 km) long Saylorville Lake is located 11 miles (18 km) upstream of Des Moines and has the 28.2-mile (45.4 km) Neil Smith Trail, a paved recreational trail, located near its eastern shore. South of the Saylorville Dam is a trail, which is known as "the connector", that connects the Neil Smith Trail and the Ankeny trails system. The Neil Smith and John Pat Dorrian Trails connect southward along the east side of the Des Moines River from the Big Creek Lake marina, through Polk City, Saylorville Lake, the Birdland Marina, and the Des Moines Botanical Center to the 167-acre (68 ha) Grays Lake Park located just south of downtown Des Moines in the greater Des Moines trails system. When the Des Moines River is 13 feet (4.0 m) above flood stage between the Saylorville Dam and Des Moines, portions of the Neil Smith trail may be underwater. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Des Moines, Iowa</span> Capital of Iowa, United States

Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is located on, and named after, the Des Moines River, which likely was adapted from the early French name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks". The city's population was 214,133 as of the 2020 census. The six-county metropolitan area is ranked 83rd in terms of population in the United States with 699,292 residents according to the 2019 estimate by the United States Census Bureau, and is the largest metropolitan area fully located within the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polk County, Iowa</span> County in Iowa, United States

Polk County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 492,401. It is Iowa's most populous county, and home to over 15% of the state's residents. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas County, Iowa</span> County in Iowa, United States

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 99,678, making it the seventh-most populous county in Iowa. Between 2010 and 2020, it was the fastest growing county in Iowa and one of the fastest growing in the country. Its county seat is Adel, and its largest city is Waukee. The county was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States under James K. Polk, the namesake of neighboring Polk County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheldahl, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Sheldahl is a city in Polk, Boone, and Story counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 297 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankeny, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and a suburb of the state capital of Des Moines, as part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Ankeny was 67,887, making it the seventh largest city in the state. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa. Currently, the city's incorporated area totals 29.14 square miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polk City, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Polk City is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5543 in the 2020 census, an increase from 2,344 in 2000. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saylorville, Iowa</span> CDP in Iowa, United States

Saylorville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Saydel Community School District is located in this area, as is the unincorporated community of Marquisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ledges State Park</span>

Ledges State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located approximately four miles (6.4 km) south of the city of Boone. The park contains a sandstone gorge carved by Pea's Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River. The gorge is 100 feet (30 m) deep in places, with concretions jutting from the cliffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden</span> Botanical garden in downtown Des Moines

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a 17-acre (7-hectare) botanical garden located near downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States, on the east bank of the Des Moines River and north of I-235.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankeny High School</span> Public secondary school in Ankeny, Iowa, United States

Ankeny High School is a public high school located in Ankeny, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Ankeny Community School District, and serves grades 10 through 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Des Moines metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan statistical area in Iowa, United States

The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River. Des Moines serves as the capital of the U.S. state of Iowa The metro area consists of six counties in central Iowa: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, Guthrie, and Jasper. The Des Moines–Ames–West Des Moines Combined Statistical Area (CSA) encompasses the separate metropolitan area of Ames, and the separate micropolitan areas of Pella, Boone and Oskaloosa. The Des Moines area is a fast-growing metro area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saydel Community School District</span> Public school district in Polk County, Iowa, United States

The Saydel Community School District is a rural public school district with its headquarters in unincorporated Polk County, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-Iowa Council</span>

The Mid Iowa Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves all Scouts, adult volunteers and Venturers in Central Iowa. This includes the area of the state capital, Des Moines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 35 in Iowa</span> Section of Interstate Highway in Iowa, United States

Interstate 35 (I-35) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Laredo, Texas, to Duluth, Minnesota. In Iowa, the highway runs from south to north through the center of the state, roughly parallel to U.S. Highway 69 (US 69) and US 65. It enters the state near Lamoni from Missouri and continues north through the southern Iowa drift plain. In the Des Moines area, I-35 runs concurrently with I-80, and the two highways bypass Des Moines to the west and north. I-235, the only auxiliary route of I-35, serves the suburbs and downtown Des Moines; it begins and ends at the two interchanges where I-35 and I-80 meet. Near Mason City and Clear Lake, US 18 and Iowa Highway 27 (Iowa 27) overlap with I-35. Shortly after, US 18 splits off to the west in Clear Lake, while Iowa 27 runs with I-35 until they reach the Minnesota state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Highway 160</span> Highway in Iowa

Iowa Highway 160 (Iowa 160) is a short state highway that runs east and west in central Iowa. Its begins at Iowa 415 in Ankeny and ends at exit 90 of Interstate 35 (I-35) in Ankeny. Originally ending at a Y intersection, south of the current intersection with Iowa 415, the route has been straightened to run west and east. Iowa 160 passes Des Moines Area Community College near its intersection with U.S. Highway 69 (US 69).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Highway 415</span> Highway in Iowa

Iowa Highway 415 is a short state highway that runs mostly north-to-south in central Iowa. Iowa 415 begins at U.S. Highway 6 in Des Moines and ends at Iowa Highway 141 east of Granger. Prior to 2003, Iowa 415 extended north from Polk City and ended at Iowa Highway 17 south of Madrid. Now, Iowa 415 turns west at Polk City and crosses the Des Moines River at Saylorville Lake prior to ending at Iowa 141. Since the rerouting in 2003, the northern terminus for Iowa 415 is now farther south than its northernmost point in Polk City.

Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is a rail trail running 56 miles (90 km) from Waukee, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa. In 2013, an additional 33.1-mile (53.3 km) north loop was completed on the RRVT, making the RRVT nearly 90 miles (140 km) of paved trails and having a paved interior loop of more than 72 miles (116 km). The 39-mile (63 km) portion of the trail from Waukee to Herndon is part of the American Discovery Trail, which runs between Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware and Point Reyes near the Bay Area of California. In Iowa, the American Discovery Trail will be concurrent with U.S. Bicycle Route 50.

The Ankeny Community School District is a public school district located in Polk County, Iowa and is 6 miles (9.7 km) from the capital city, Des Moines. Headquartered in Ankeny, the district is well known in Iowa for accomplishments in academics, athletics and activities. Ankeny Schools are accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (AdvancEd) and the Iowa Department of Education, and are part of the Central Iowa Metro League (CIML).

Clive Greenbelt Trail is an 11.3 miles (18.2 km) urban recreational trail in Clive, Iowa and forms part of the Central Iowa Trails network. This very busy recreational trail runs through Polk and Dallas Counties in Iowa. It is a curvy, paved asphalt and concrete trail.

Big Creek State Park is a 3550-acre state park located in Polk County, Iowa.

References

  1. 1 2 Polk County Conservation Board. "High Trestle Trail" . Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) website, updated October 2011, retrieved October 14, 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.inhf.org/pdfs/11_INHF_winter_mag_pp1-16_1-7-11_final_11.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Celebrate a world-class trails destination INHF Winter 2011 Magazine website retrieved March 14, 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.inhf.org/high-trestle-trail-intro.cfm Premier trail and bridge officially opens at Grand Celebration, April 2011 INHF website, updated October 2011, retrieved October 10, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 http://www.inhf.org//trails/high-trestle.cfm Map of High Trestle Trail INHF website retrieved March 14, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/parks-trails/13-high-trestle-trail/map-detail/ High Trestle Trail Map Polk County Conservation Board website retrieved April 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Transportation Map for Bicyclists, 2010 edition, (see trail #2) Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) website retrieved February 17, 2010.
  8. 1 2 http://www.inhf.org/high-trestle-trail-intro.cfm High Trestle Trail Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation website updated June 2011 retrieved July 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Report: High Trestle Trail Bridge top spot on 600 miles of trails". Business Record (businessrecord.com) website. Des Moines, Iowa. June 8, 2015. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2023. See 2015 Trail Counter Report in May 2015 which is a pdf file on the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (dmampo.org) website.
  10. 1 2 Hein, Lisa (Spring 2012). "Trail Blazers". Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Magazine: 14–17.
  11. ↑ Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (2012). "Trail Partners" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42663&id=20832839998 High Trestle Trail Photos High Trestle Trail INHF Facebook website updated April 2011, retrieved July 19, 2011. [ user-generated source ]
  13. 1 2 Cooney, Kevin (March 14, 2011). "Bridge Art Wows Bicyclists". KCCI-TV 8HD . Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ http://rdgusa.com/high_trestle_trail/latest_news/components.html Archived 2017-10-19 at the Wayback Machine High Trestle Trail: High Trestle Bridge | Artwork Components of Bridge Art on RDg Dahlquist Art Studios website retrieved July 19, 2011.
  15. ↑ http://rdgusa.com/high_trestle_trail/latest_news/photos.html Archived 2016-08-02 at the Wayback Machine High Trestle Trail: High Trestle Bridge | Artwork Daytime Photos of the bridge art on RDg Dahlquist Art Studios website retrieved July 19, 2011.
  16. ↑ http://rdgusa.com/high_trestle_trail/latest_news/2011/04/photos---april-13-2011.html Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine High Trestle Trail: High Trestle Bridge | Artwork Nighttime Photos of the bridge art on RDg Dahlquist Art Studios website retrieved July 19, 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 http://www.inhf.org//trails/high-trestle.cfm Central Iowa Trails Network INHF website retrieved October 10, 2011.
  18. ↑ "High Trestle Trail Bridge".
  19. ↑ Macdonald, Fiona (April 2, 2015). "Architecture Design: Eight Amazing Footbridges". BBC . Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  20. 1 2 "High Trestle Trail". Polk County Conservation Board website. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  21. ↑ https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=212816457429398096288.0004a0bb69abdd70f28f5&ll=41.872373,-93.88813&spn=0.110696,0.207367&z=12&iwloc=0004a0bb6d45af79befe8%20%3Chttp://maps.google Ankeny to Woodward trail map (big) INHF website retrieved February 22, 2010.
  22. ↑ http://www.inhf.org//trails/neal-smith-john-pat-dorrian.cfm Neal Smith and John Pat Dorrian Trails INHF website, retrieved April 20, 2013.
  23. ↑ Granger Trails Committee to hold ribbon cutting, fundraiser on June 5, 2021: Courtesy of Granger Trails Committee. Dallas County News website. Adel, Iowa. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  24. ↑ Ullmann, Allison (June 13, 2021). Granger Trails Committee cuts the ribbon on trail hub, fundraises for bridge project. The Perry Chief website. Perry, Iowa. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Neil Smith and John Pat Dorrain Trails". Iowa Trails Homepage from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation website. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Des Moines Parks and Recreation". City of Des Moines Park and Recreation website. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  27. ↑ The Neal Smith Trail: One of the Best, Unique Trails in Central Iowa. DesMoinesOutdoors.com website. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  28. ↑ John Pat Dorrian Trail: A Fantastic Trail in Downtown Des Moines. DesMoinesOutdoors.com website. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  29. ↑ PDF Map of the Neil Smith Trail. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  30. ↑ Des Moines River height. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  31. ↑ Neal Smith Trail. BikeIowa website. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.