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Type: Nature Trail

Length: 512 miles

Surface: Mix


Condition

Average

Grade - Rolling Moderate Hills


Amenities


Description

The American Discovery Trail is a national trail, crossing the United States through cities, small towns, forests, mountains, farmland, and deserts all on one trail. Its 6,800+ miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretches from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California. It is the first coast to coast, non-motorized trail in the U.S. The ADT provides trail users the opportunity to journey into the heart of all that is uniquely American — its culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.


The trail is divided into 4 regions of the United States; eastern, central - northern, central - southern, and western.

The American Discovery Trail is made up of 8 different trails (see connecting trails)
More info on the American Discovery Trail: Iowa link.

Detailed Trail Description

The trail is divided into 6 segments totaling 512 miles, mostly existing rail-trails:
Davenport to Cedar Rapids — 97 miles
Cedar Rapids to Waterloo — 62 miles
Waterloo to Marshalltown — 79 miles
Marshalltown to Des Moines — 81 miles
Des Moines to Atlantic — 117 miles
Atlantic to Council Bluffs (Nebraska state line) — 76 miles


Location - Where is this Trail?


Trailheads


Sites & Attractions

History of the Trail

Iowa was landscaped during the Ice Age by four massive glaciers that smoothed out some of the hills and left perhaps the most fertile soil in the world. Farms take up about 90 percent of the gently rolling land that produces more corn and beans than any other state, as well as many other crops. Iowa is also the leading manufacturer of farm and road construction machinery. Iowa became a part of the United States in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase and the twenty-ninth state in 1846. The state's nickname, the Hawkeye State, is said to honor Chief Black Hawk who led the Sauk and Fox tribes during the Black Hawk War of 1832. (source: American Discovery Trail: Iowa)


Contributors

The following members have contributed to the above Trail content.


This trail was last edited by CedarFallsVisitor on Jun 19, 2020.

Upcoming Events

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Past Events

Embrace the Hills 2023

16 Saturday Sep 2023
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Road
  •    5,166

Glenwood Gravel Grinder

16 Saturday Sep 2023
  • Glenwood, IA
  • Gravel
  •    978

T-Bone Ride

11 Sunday Jun 2023
  • Audubon, IA
  • Trail Ride
  •    1,081

Bridges Ride

3 Saturday Jun 2023
  • Waterloo, IA
  • Trail Ride
  •    3,229

2023 Annual Corridor MPO Bike Ride

13 Saturday May 2023
  • Hiawatha, IA
  • Tour
  •    1,827

Embrace the Hills

17 Saturday Sep 2022
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Road
  •    3,468

Glenwood Gravel Grinder

17 Saturday Sep 2022
  • Glenwood, IA
  • Gravel
  •    2,061

FORE! Our Parks - Bike Ride (and golf) - Friends of Des Moines Parks

17 Friday Jun 2022
  • Des Moines, IA
  • Party Ride
  •    3,351

Embrace the Hills

18 Saturday Sep 2021
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Road
  •    5,544

Embrace the Hills GRAVEL option

18 Saturday Sep 2021
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Gravel
  •    2,167

Glenwood Gravel Grinder

18 Saturday Sep 2021
  • Glenwood, IA
  • Gravel
  •    1,960

Embrace the Hills

19 Saturday Sep 2020
  • Mondamin, IA
  • Road
  •    8,426

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Latest American Discovery Trail News

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