The Ankeny Brief
Trail lengths, surfaces and routes come from the public agencies that own and maintain them: Polk County Conservation, neighboring county conservation boards, the Iowa DNR, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Saylorville trails) and the cities along each route, plus Iowa By Trail. Leashed dogs are welcome on the metro trails and in county/state park areas; check posted signs at natural areas. Drive times are approximate to the nearest trailhead from central Ankeny.
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The High Trestle Trail. It starts in Ankeny and runs 25+ miles west to Woodward, crossing its landmark half-mile, 13-story-high bridge over the Des Moines River valley near Madrid. Ride it at sunset.
Brown's Woods in West Des Moines (Iowa's largest urban forest, 4.4 miles of natural trail), the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt northeast of Bondurant, and the wooded/prairie trails at Jester Park on Saylorville's west shore.
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is an 89-mile paved loop out of Waukee. Closer in, the Neal Smith Trail runs ~26 paved miles along Saylorville, and the Chichaqua Valley Trail runs ~26 miles from Bondurant to Baxter.
Yes. Leashed dogs are welcome on the paved metro trails and in Polk County and state park areas. Keep them leashed, clean up, and watch for signs at natural areas that restrict pets.
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The High Trestle Trail starts right in Ankeny and is the marquee ride, with its half-mile-long, 13-story-high bridge over the Des Moines River. Other paved favorites within 30 minutes include the Neal Smith Trail along Saylorville, the Gay Lea Wilson and Chichaqua Valley trails, and the 89-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail loop out of Waukee. For natural-surface hiking, try Brown's Woods (Iowa's largest urban forest), the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, and Jester Park on Saylorville's west shore.
Paved (asphalt/concrete) multi-use trails good for biking, running and strollers include the High Trestle, Neal Smith, Gay Lea Wilson, Chichaqua Valley, Raccoon River Valley, Great Western, Summerset, Bill Riley and Clive Greenbelt trails. Natural-surface hiking trails include Brown's Woods, the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, and much of Jester Park and the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes. Leashed dogs are welcome on the paved metro trails and in Polk County Conservation and Iowa state park areas. Always keep pets leashed, clean up after them, and check posted signs, since a few natural areas restrict pets on certain trails.
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