How Can You Mountain Bike in Iowa?
How can you mountain bike in Iowa? There aren’t any mountains! … If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that, I’d be able to afford a sweet new bike.
You can mountain bike in Iowa, and a lot of people do. Men, women, and children. If you are looking for where to ride and how to meet these people, this article is for you. It will cover mostly the Des Moines area, AKA central Iowa, because that is where I live and what I know best. You will find links for organizations in other parts of the state at the end.
But seriously, how do you mountain bike without mountains? Although the name “mountain bike” did come from the mountains, the sport of mountain biking simply means to ride that bike off road, on dirt or technical trails.
Mountain Bike Trails in Central Iowa
Note: Wherever possible, the links in this section take you to more information about the trails.
Center Trails
Center Trails are in Greenwood-Ashworth Park in Des Moines near the Des Moines Art Center.
The trails are named Hillside, Rollercoaster, Fingers, and Philly’s Pholly, so you will correctly assume that the are hilly.
Common meeting spots are the Ashworth Pool parking lot at the south end of 45th Street, and the Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden parking area on the west side of the Des Moines Art Center.
Greenwood Park and Ashworth Park are Des Moines parks. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
CITA administers the Center Trails Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, events, and their latest rides.
Denman Woods
The Denman Woods trail is just south of Center Trails on Water Works Park property.
The trails in this area are all very flat.
A common meeting spot is the North Valley Dr. bridge. The Ashworth Pool parking lot is also popular. From Ashworth Pool, bike the paved trails—Bill Riley and Walnut Creek—to the North Valley Dr. bridge. Along Walnut Creek Trail, you will find several short dirt trails. The entrance to Denman Woods is about 1/3-mile down the paved Levee Trail from the North Valley Drive bridge.
The land is part of Water Works Park. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
CITA administers the Center Trails Facebook group where folks discuss Denman Woods and the other nearby trails.
North Sycamore Trails
North Sycamore Trails run along the west bank of the Des Moines River and the north side of Beaver Creek.
The original line—Low Line—runs close to the water. The High Line—Top Shelf—is farther in and less prone to flooding. Several connectors and loops run between them. There are some short, punchy climbs but very little elevation change.
The north gravel lot south of 66th Avenue and west of the Des Moines River is the most common meeting spot. Additional parking is available in the paved lots east of the river.
A potentially good meeting spot is the new Prairie Point Dog Park in Johnston.
The Lower Beaver Drive parking lot is along the Trestle to Trestle Trail between North Syc and South Syc.
The land is mangaed by Polk County Conservation. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
Members of CITA administer the Project Sycamore Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, and events.
South Sycamore Trails
South Sycamore Trails South sits in the bend of the Des Moines River north of the “the old Target.” The paved Trestle to Trestle Trail connects the north end of South Syc to the south end of North Syc.
The original, main line runs along the river’s edge. Owl Trail is deeper in the woods. There is only about 12 feet of elevation change.
The easiest meeting spot is the southwest corner of the parking lot for the Polk County River Place offices (also known as “the old Target”).
The Lower Beaver Drive parking lot is along the Trestle to Trestle Trail between North Syc and South Syc.
The land is managed by Polk County Conservation. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
Members of CITA administer the Project Sycamore Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, and events.
Banner Lakes
Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park is the site of an old strip mine south of Des Moines along Highway 65/69.
Most of the trails there are built on the piles of mine tailings. This gives them a character (gritty soil, blind corners, and short, steep hills) that is quite different from the rest of the trails in central Iowa.
The parking lot closest to the park entrance is the most popular meetup spot. The parking lot for Boat Ramp #2 is more centrally located and has better access to the beginner trails.
Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park is a 222-acre state park managed by the Iowa DNR. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
CITA administers the Banner Trail (Summerset State Park) Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, and events.
I have written an article called “Banner Trail One Bite at a Time Plan.” It’s out of date regarding the newest trails, but still worth a read.
Ewing Park
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The Ashley Okland Playground parking makes a good meeting spot because it has restrooms. Folks also like to meet at the top of the flow trails, between the BMX track and the soap box derby track.
Ewing Park is a 355-acre Des Moines park. The flow and singletrack trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA). The BMX track belongs to 80/35 BMX.
CITA administers the Ewing Park Trails Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, and events.
Fourmile Mountain Bike Park
Fourmile Mountain Bike Park is Des Moines’ newest trail system.
There is one parking lot and it is the best place to meet.
The land is managed by and the trails were built by Polk County Conservation. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
CITA administers the Fourmile MTB Park Facebook group where folks discuss trail conditions, maintenance, and events.
Grandview Park
Grandview Park is at the corner of Easton Boulevard and East 33rd Street in Des Moines.
The single trail is about 1.3 miles long.
There are parking lots throughout the park.
Grandview Park is a Des Moines park. The trails are maintained by Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA).
There is no Facebook group for this trail.
Southwoods Park
Southwoods Park is in West Des Moines, right across the street from the city hall, library, pond, amphitheater complex.
Green Loop and Blue Trail climb the hills overlooking Jordan Creek. Blue Connector connects the singletrack system to the paved Jordan Creek Trail.
There is one parking lot and it is the best place to meet.
Southwoods Park is a West Des Moines park and they maintain the trails.
There is no Facebook group for this trail.
Mountain Bike Rides in Central Iowa
Monday Night No Drop
Central Iowa Trail Association organizes a weekly group ride on Monday nights May through September. “No drop” means no one left behind! A designated “sweeper” rides at the end of each group. All skill levels are welcome.
You can get the details on the CITA Facebook page or on the CITA website.
Weekly Women’s No-Drop Ride
ShredHer and CITA organize a weekly beginner-friendly mountain bike ride for women-identifying riders on Thursday evenings. Bikes are available to borrow for free when requested 24 hours in advance. Fathers are welcome with their minor daughters.
You can get the details on the CITA Facebook page, ShredHer website, or CITA website.
International Women’s Mountain Bike Day
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Mountain Bike Organizations in Central Iowa
Central Iowa Trail Association
Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA) is a 501(c)(3) formed in 1998. CITA is a local chapter of International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). It is a 100% volunteer-led organization, working with local land managers to maintain singletrack trails for mountain biking in the Des Moines area.
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at F&Os on Merle Hay Road.
ShredHER
ShredHER is a women’s mountain biking collective in Des Moines. They sponsor weekly rides, a huge International Women's Mountain Bike Day event, and skills clinics.
Des Moines Wolfpack
The Des Moines Wolfpack is the local team of the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League.
The League is a grassroots organization is dedicated to promoting the sport of mountain biking among young people in Iowa and bringing mountain bike racing to Iowa schools.
Check the Des Moines Wolfpack Facebook page for upcoming rides and events.
Other Iowa Mountain Bike Organizations
These are the organizations I am familiar with and could find links for. Please let me know about others I should include.
Cedar Valley Association of Soft Trails (CVAST)
Cedar Valley Association of Soft Trails (CVAST) is the local trail organization for the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area in northeast Iowa.
CVAST - Cedar Valley Association for Soft Trails Facebook Page
CVAST - Cedar Valley Association for Soft Trails Facebook Group
Trails they maintain: George Wyth
Decorah Human Powered Trails (DHPT)
Decorah Human Powered Trails (DHPT) is a volunteer organization that builds, maintains, promotes, and enhances trail experiences in Decorah, Iowa.
Friends of Off Road Cycling (FORC)
Friends of Off Road Cycling (FORC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity with the goal of expanding mountain biking opportunities in the Quad Cities area through education, advocacy, stewardship, and community building.
FORC maintains eight trail systems within the greater Quad Cities area containing over 42 miles of singletrack:
Sylvan Island, Moline, Illinois
Sunderbruch Park, Davenport, Iowa
Scott County Park, Park View, Iowa
Illiniwek Forest Preserve, Hampton, Illinois
Westbrook Park, DeWitt, Iowa
Stephens Park, Moline, Illinois
Geneseo Prairie Park, Geneseo, Illinois
Dorrance Forest Preserve, Port Byron, Illinois
Iowa Coalition of Off-Road Riders (ICORR)
Iowa Coalition of Off-Road Riders (ICORR) is a volunteer club that builds, promotes, and maintains mountain bike trail systems in the Iowa City area.
Trails they maintain: Sugar Bottom, Woodpecker Singletrack, Creekside, Terry Trueblood
Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League
The Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League is a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the sport of mountain biking among young people in Iowa and bringing mountain bike racing to Iowa schools. There are local teams across the state.
Linn Area Mountain Bike Association (LAMBA)
Linn Area Mountain Bike Association (LAMBA) is the local trail organization for Cedar Rapids and Linn County in east-central Iowa.
LAMBA Website — appears currently broken
Trails they maintain: Wanatee, Pinicon Ridge
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