Raccoon River Valley Trail

Jefferson, Cooper, Herndon, Yale, Panora, Linden, Redfield, Adel, Waukee, Dallas Center, Minburn, Perry, Dawson, Jamaica, Iowa

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89 mi. | Easy

The prairie remnants and bottomland timber along the trail offer glimpses of what early Iowans might have seen here when they built and then rode the railroad that followed this route. Much of the trail is lined with trees, giving trail users the feeling of walking under a shady canopy or tunnel. Open areas offer expansive views of the Iowa countryside—from agricultural fields to patches of native wildflowers and grasses. Many wildlife species can also be seen around the trail. The entire RRVT and loop was acquired in phases starting in the mid-1980s as the railroads discontinued their activity. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation served as interim owner until Dallas, Guthrie and Greene Counties had funding available to purchase the corridor and develop the trail.