Raccoon River Valley Trail Inducted Into Rails-to-Trails

In August, Iowa’s Raccoon River Valley Trail was Inducted Into Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s National Hall of Fame after receiving a record-breaking 16,000 votes in the National 2021 Rail-Trail Hall of Fame contest!

Since opening in 1989, the trail has been a vital tourist attraction and embraced as an asset for health, wellness and connections among the region and state.

This 89-mile path – offering views of woodlands, prairies, public art and a unique “lighted bridge”—connects rural communities to larger cities, including Jefferson, Des Moines and Perry.

Plans are in the works to eventually connect the Raccoon River Valley Trail to the world-famous High Trestle Trail.

The trail is also an important segment of the cross-country Great American Rail-Trail™, a flagship project of RTC that will connect Washington, D.C., and Washington State across 3,700 miles of trail.

Today, more than 350,000 people use the trail annually, bringing economic opportunities and vitality to the 14 communities that dot the trail, much like the railroad did 150 years ago. Learn more about the trail at raccoonrivervalleytrail.org.

Text courtesy of Adel Partners Chamber