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Great Western Trail (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
's Des Moines metropolitan area
Des Moines metropolitan area
The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area , consists of five counties in central Iowa, United States: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, and Guthrie...
.
It is 16.5 miles (26.6 km) long and paved with asphalt
Asphalt concrete
Asphalt concrete is a composite material commonly used in construction projects such as road surfaces, airports and parking lots. It consists of asphalt and mineral aggregate mixed together, then laid down in layers and compacted...
. The trail follows the route of an abandoned line of the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railroad, constructed in 1899 and last operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
. It runs between southwestern Des Moines at its north end and Martensdale
Martensdale, Iowa
Martensdale is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
at the south, passing through suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an areas, fields and farmland, and the wooded valley of the North River
North River (Iowa)
The North River is a tributary of the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa in the United States. It is long and drains an area of . Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
.
The trail is maintained by the Conservation Boards of Polk
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
and Warren Counties.
The Ride
Riders will start in the Ashworth Pool parking lot, in downtown Des MoinesDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. After a short ride through trees the trail will merge into the Great Western Trail. Riders will then cross a busy street, and after riding through trees, an airport landing strip light, and the first mile marker, they will arrive near Des Moines International Airport
Des Moines International Airport
Des Moines International Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Des Moines, a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The airport serves the Des Moines metropolitan area with 19 connections to major airline hubs...
. The scenery won't change much as riders cross a small bridge and another road, but soon they'll be in a lush grassy meadow for a long while, until they enter a thicket of trees farther up the path. Eventually they will pass under Highway 28 and Army Post Road, which leads into a peaceful golf course. After the golf course they will be in rural areas for a while, until passing through Orilla, which is just north of Norwalk
Norwalk, Iowa
Norwalk is a city in Polk and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 6,884 at the 2000 census. The city is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located just south of the Des Moines International Airport.-History:The first log cabin...
, home to Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2006, he gained greater recognition for his role as the titular hero...
, the star of Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
. Cumming
Cumming, Iowa
Cumming is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 351 at the 2010 census. It is the hometown of Senator Tom Harkin.A part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area, Cumming is considered one of the smallest incorporated suburbs of the metro area...
is not too far ahead. After Cumming, the trail will pass through countryside and over the Middle River for over eight miles (13 km) to Martensdale
Martensdale, Iowa
Martensdale is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, where the trail ends.