T-Bone Trail

Audubon, Hamlin, Exira, Brayton, Atlantic, Iowa

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21.2 mi. | Easy

"The T-Bone Trail is a 21+-mile trail running through farmland and timber in the valley of the Nishnabotna River. The trail’s name arises from a project of area cattle producers and business people in the early 1900’s by which beef cattle were assembled and shipped on a special train to markets in Chicago, in “Operation T-Bone”. This trail passes through a number of small communities with varying amenities including local restaurants. Just south of Exira, a short spur trail connects to the “Plow in the Oak” park, where a horse-drawn plow leaned against a young tree in the 1860’s has been gradually absorbed into a large oak tree. Several wooden bridges donated by local businesses provide easy passage down the partially-tree-lined trail for bicyclists, walkers, rollerbladers, and cross-country skiers. The north end of the trail begins in Audubon in “Albert City Park”, home of Albert, the Bull, a huge concrete sculpture of a Hereford bull, an icon of “Operation T-Bone”. At the south end, the trail terminates at a trailhead on Dunbar Road, in the country 5 miles northeast of Atlantic. Local efforts to complete the trail into Atlantic are underway."