The Summerset Trail is a rail trail

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 Warren County in south-central 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...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

The trail is 11.1 miles (17.9 km) long and is 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...

. It follows the route of an abandoned rail line between the cities of Carlisle

Carlisle, Iowa

Carlisle is a city in Warren and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,497 at the 2000 census. The city is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area....

 at its northeastern end and Indianola

Indianola, Iowa

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,998 people, 4,748 households, and 3,261 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,414.7 people per square mile . There were 4,981 housing units at an average density of 542.1 per square mile...

 at the southwest. The trail passes remnants of prairie

Prairie

Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...

, wetland

Wetland

A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....

s along the Middle River

Middle River (Iowa)

The Middle 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....

 southwest of Carlisle, and woodlands north of Indianola.

The Facilities

Trailhead

Trailhead

A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...

s are at Carlisle and Indianola, and at the trail's midpoint at Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park. The Carlisle trailhead consists of a parking lot and a small Portable toilet

Portable toilet

Portable toilet are simple portable enclosures containing a chemical toilet which are typically used as a temporary toilet for construction sites and large gatherings and events. Most of the portable toilets have black open-front-U-shaped toilet seat with cover...

. The trailhead at Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park is located at the end of Elk Horn St. (which is accessible from Highway 65-69). There is a pit toilet facility in the parking lot of the Banner Lakes Trailhead, and the trail can also be accessed through the park loop road. In Indianola, the trailhead is located at the 300 block of East 5th street, at the junction of the Summerset trail and the 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long McVay Trail which ends at Pickard Park in Indianola.

The Ride

Riding from north to south, riders start at the Carlisle parking area and travel southwest through the outskirts of town. The trail parallels 165th street (which merges into Dubuque Pl) for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km). The terrain is flat, and features both fields and wetland conservation areas. The entire northern section of the trail has no gain or loss in elevation. When the trail turns south at Banner Lakes, it crosses the Middle River bridge, and riders will notice the start of a gradual uphill climb for the rest of the length of the trail. South of the Middle River, the terrain becomes gentle rolling hills and prairie remnants. The Summerset trail ends at the Indianola trailhead, however riders can continue on the short McVay trail. The McVay trail heads downhill south of the trailhead through a deeply wooded area.

Sights

The trail features many bird and wildlife watching opportunities, especially in the wetlands conservation areas in the northern part of the trail. Many people who ride the trail prefer to start at the northern end, to avoid the "hill" into Indianola at the end of a 22 miles (35.4 km) ride.