Review Date
June 18, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: borasam ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
These trails are a few of the best maintained trails anywhere. The fact that these trails are within the city boundaries of Des Moines is amazing. There are over 10 miles of sweet singletrack with enough of everything an XC rider can whish for (sorry, no rocks). There are flat and technical sections as well as heart pounding climbs followed by death defying descents and did I mentioned is only a few blocks from downtown?
Another feature of these trails is the sense of wilderness. Amid being so close to the city riders will be in constant interaction with nature, crossing creeks, riding on the snow ,getting mixed up in a heard of deer and bunny-hopping varmints are part of the experience.
It is important to say that these trails, like many other require a great deal of appreciation and recognition. Many of these magnificent areas are being threatened by lack of planning and designation, that is why an association was created 10 years ago to address these and many other issues related to these and other dirt surface trails in central Iowa.
CITA, Central Iowa Trail Association has been the instrumental on keeping open access to users by creating alliances with all interested parties including neighbors, users and government agencies. The group host weekly rides as well as competitive events to showcase the trail system. They also mobilize armies of volunteers to repair, build and maintain all of the 10 to 12 miles of single-track without heavy machinery or toxic chemicals. Today CITA faces one of it’s biggest challenges yet. After a terrible flood in the early summer 2008 many of the bridges where washed away by overflowing creeks. Many sections of the trail where simply re-claimed by the Des Moines River and lost to erosion. Now, more than ever CITA needs volunteers. They will also need our help to rebuild bridges and re-route many sections of single-track. Log in to www. centraliowatrail.com to find out how you can help. Also check out the events calendar and the huge photo archive.

Review Date
August 7, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: word91 ,  Racer

Summary:
Probably one of the best trails without having to drive anywhere to far. It's got lots of fun spots and some challenging logs to get over and some pretty fun decents. If anyone knows who maintains it or builds all those little bridge things I'd love to help. If therre were more jumps and bridges the trails wouyld be way better, but i still think it's sweet.

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Review Date
October 13, 2004

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: shznit65 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
There hasn't been a recent thread on this lately so I'll try and let you guys know what I like about these trails this last month! I used to only ride the trails at the bottom left of the pool parking lot.They will kick my butt with the climbs.One of them I have never mastered yet!(steep) Lately I have noticed what I think are some new trails branching off at the top of the hill.(several going of to the right and winding back to the main trail! These are really great little single track downhill sections ,back and forth that you can get to much speed if not careful they all come out on the paved trail! The old faithful trail by the pond and the brick shack has been changed a bit for the better I think with a creek crossing If you stay to the left. And great bonsai downhill speed across wooden bridges that will make the novice think twice! Only one good climb this way! Also the trail to the west(by 63rd) is a great 3-4 mile switch back easy novice trail along the river with tons of deer and animals everywhere! Some log trail crossing that are challenging !

Recommended Route:
1 trial at left end of pool parking . 1 trail at upper pond next to brick shack. 1 trail along paved trail to left up along train bridge,over train bridge to left after bridge.left or right after that. and continued to the right and back over train track to another paved trail with trail entrance 100 yards down to right . trail exits by paved again

Other recommended trails in the same area:
behind target on euclid ..goes for along way but is really rutted by motorized vehicles

Review Date
June 25, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Review Date
June 22, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week