Spend a weekend under the blue arches of the High Trestle Trail bridgeand you'll find riders from across Iowa enjoying the picturesque views from 13 stories above the Des Moines River valley.
Sinceopening in 2011, the 25-mile stretchfromAnkeny to Woodward has become a bicycle-tourism mecca, sprouting cottage industries that caterto cyclists. Oaseslike the Nite Hawk Bar & Grill in Slater and the Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid pack in thousands of riders on busy summer weekends.
"In Iowa, biking is very social. We stop and get a drink or two," said Dan Heiderscheit, owner of Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny. "It’s helping some of us small businesses get a foothold and grow because (riders) tend to support local businesses a lot more."
Heiderscheit opened the brewery in 2014inpart because of its location near the town's trail
"The Ankeny Market Pavilion really opens up a new opportunity for the city to attract larger, bike-related events, and we’re already seeing that with the commitment of some larger regional rides," said Derek Lord, economic development director.
The High Trestle Trail is the most popular bike trail in Iowa, according tothe Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.It averages more than 40,000 riders a month during the summerat the bridge.
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