Go & Do - High Trestle Trail from Quad City Times

Mon August 01 2011
Posted Aug 1, 2011
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Written by Linda Watson, assistant city editor HIGH TRESTLE TRAIL We've been on lots of bicycle trails, but nothing quite like the new High Trestle Trail that opened this spring over the Des Moines River in central Iowa. The highlight of the 25-mile paved concrete trail is a half-mile-long bridge that towers 13 stories over the scenic valley on the former railroad route. A half-dozen overlooks bump out on the bridge, providing nice stopping points to take in the view for miles. It's wide enough that it didn't feel scary being up so high. The bridge has an interesting design, with artistic stone towers at both ends and rusted steel beams angled over the bridge that represent the supports of a historic coal mine. Old piers from the 1912 version of the trestle have been turned into an overlook of the bridge itself. Nearby is a small shelter with tables where we stopped for a picnic lunch. We rode the segment between the small towns of Madrid and Woodward (about 15 miles round-trip), but you can continue farther east and south to Ankeny and link to Des Moines and Saylorville Lake trails for a big day. Woodward has a nicely restored train depot with restrooms, and Madrid boasts the fun-looking Flat Tire Lounge in a Quonset-style trailside building that caters to bicyclists. It's an easy drive or a doable ride to the various trailheads from Des Moines or Ames. For trail info, go to http://www.hightrestletrail.info/.

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