A long-anticipated connection between the Raccoon River Valley and High Trestle trails in central Iowa opens on Saturday.
Stretching nine miles from Perry to Woodward, this segment creates a nearly continuous 120-mile paved loop for bikers, runners and walkers, making it one of the longest in the U.S. It also connects to the Raccoon River Valley Trail's 72-mile loop.
Andrea Boulton is the trails and community conservation director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, which has been working on rails-to-trails projects in the state for over 40 years.
"There’s so much excitement to see this project finally come to fruition. I think the community has been waiting for this since before the High Trestle Trail was even completed,” Boulton said.