Raccoon River Valley Trail

Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is a rail trail running 56 miles (90 km) from Waukee, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa. In 2013, an additional 33.1-mile (53.3 km) north loop was completed on the RRVT, making the RRVT nearly 90 miles (140 km) of paved trails and having a paved interior loop of more than 72 miles (116 km). The 39-mile (63 km) portion of the trail from Waukee to Herndon is part of the American Discovery Trail, which runs between Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware and Point Reyes near the Bay Area of California. In Iowa, the American Discovery Trail will be concurrent with U.S. Bicycle Route 50 (see United States Numbered Bicycle Routes).[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The recreational trail runs through the counties of Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene in Iowa. It is a paved trail, mainly asphalt, though three sections are concrete. One concrete section extends from Jefferson south for four miles (6 km). Another concrete section is a twelve-mile (20 km) section connecting Linden, Panora, and Yale. Constructed during 2010-2013, the 33.1-mile (53.3 km) North Loop, which runs between Dawson and Waukee through Perry, Minburn, and Dallas Center, is the third concrete section.[7][8][9][10]

In downtown Perry on Saturday, June 1, 2013, the grand opening of the new 33 mile "north loop" included food and beverage vendors; a bicycle poker run from 9:00 until 12:30 with cards at Waukee, Dallas Center, Minburn, Forest Park Museum, Perry, the bicycle bridge over the North Raccoon River west of Perry, Dawson, and Jamaica.[10] See the "north loop" Grand Opening flyer for more.

Between Yale and Ortonville, which is a trail head 3 miles east of Adel, the 31-mile (50 km) of trail is very scenic and mostly tree covered. The north loop between Herndon and Waukee, is wider, nearly flat, and is much more exposed to the sun and wind.

This trail in Dallas Center may include a bicycle tunnel under a widened Highway 44.[11][12]

The conservation board directors estimate that more than 125,000 people use this trail each year.[13]

Locations of trailheads

Original RRVT[14]

Waukee, Ortonville, Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Cooper, Jefferson

North Loop RRVT

Jamaica, Dawson, Perry, Minburn, Dallas Center

History

Original RRVT

The RRVT trail between Waukee and Yale runs along the rail line established in 1881 as a narrow-gauge line of the Des Moines Western Railroad, which became part of the Wabash Railroad. About 10 years later, the Milwaukee Road took over the line and converted it to standard gauge. Passenger service ended along the line in 1952. Freight service continued along the line until 1987. In 1982, the Chicago & North Western purchased the line. In 1987, the Central Iowa Energy Cooperative (CIECO), an affiliate of the Central Iowa Power Company, purchased the line and hundreds of acres of land located south of Panora, Iowa. CIECO intended to build a coal-fired power plant on the land it had acquired south of Panora, near the railroad line. However, plans for this power plant were abandoned. Much of the land that was to have been the site of the power plant was placed in the 1,236-acre (5.00 km2) Lennon Mill Wildlife Area south of Panora. In late 1987, CIECO, Iowa Trails, and the Conservation Boards of Dallas and Guthrie Counties agreed to develop the railroad line as a recreational trail.[13][15]

On October 7, 1989, the first section of the Raccoon River Valley Trail opened. In 1990, 34 miles (55 km) of this paved trail were opened between Waukee, and Yale. North of Yale, the RRVT lies along an old Union Pacific Railroad line which was abandoned in the late 1990s.[16] In 1997, the trail was extended with a paved trail from Yale to Jefferson. In 1999, the trail was extended with a 5 miles (8.0 km) paved trail link from Waukee to the 11.3 miles (18.2 km) Clive Greenbelt Trail in Clive.[13][16]

North Loop

The 33.1 miles (53.3 km) North Loop is an additional paved branch from Herndon through Perry to Waukee. This paved branch follows the old Union Pacific Railroad line which was abandoned in late 2005. From Herndon, it travels through Jamaica and then northern Dallas County to Dawson, Perry, Minburn, Dallas Center, and then to Waukee.[13][17] On May 14, 2011, the six mile (10 km) concrete segment from Dawson to Perry opened for use.[18][19] A six mile (10 km) concrete segment from Waukee to Dallas Center opened for use on October 15, 2011[7][8] On December 15, 2012, the section from Perry through Minburn to Dallas Center was completed.[9]

The remaining sections of the North Loop were completed during early 2013 and opened for use on June 1, 2013.[8][10][20]

In downtown Perry at noon on Saturday, June 1, 2013, the grand opening of the new 33 mile "north loop" occurred with Chuck Offenburger as Master of Ceremonies and a keynote speech by Kevin Cooney.[10] See the "north loop" Grand Opening flyer for more.

Connections to other trails

5 miles (8.0 km) east of Waukee in Polk County, the RRVT connects to the 11.3 miles (18.2 km) Clive Greenbelt Trail in Clive and forms part of the Central Iowa Trails network.[16][21]

Future connections to other trails

A connection is planned at Herndon to the 22 miles (35 km) Krushchev in Iowa Trail in northern Guthrie County.[22][23][24] This link will give Coon Rapids, Bayard, and Bagley a paved trail connected to the RRVT.

Another future connection will link the RRVT at Perry to Woodward and the 25 miles (40 km) High Trestle Trail which is in northern Polk and Dallas counties and southern Boone and Story counties.[21][25][26][27][28]

Winter Activities

Beginning in February, 2009, when at least 4 inches (10 cm) of snow covers the paved trail, the Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers (RVSC) groom the paved trail. The RRVT between Jefferson and Waukee along with the North Loop is part of a larger winter activities trail network of over 200 miles (320 km). During the winter, this groomed trail is ideal for both cross country skiers and snowmobilers.[29][30][31][32]

Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers (RVSC)

Search social media pages for "Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers" to get current information for snowmachines on the Raccoon River Valley Trail.[31] Created July 28, 2010, the RVSC social media page contains a timeline of past events.

Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers (RVSC):

For winter weather forecasts, snow depths, and other snowmobiling news visit past 24-hour snowfall totals and forecast graphic on the web or mobile site for smartphones.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.co.dallas.ia.us/conservation/images/maps/RRVT4_loop.pdf Map of Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) Dallas County Conservation Board website retrieved July 17, 2009
  2. ↑ http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/pdf/bikemap.pdf Transportation Map for Bicyclists, 2009 edition, (see trail #35) Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) website retrieved July 17, 2009
  3. ↑ http://www.discoverytrail.org/ American Discovery Trail website, retrieved October 21, 2010
  4. ↑ http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/nbrn/USBRSStatusReport.pdf An Update Concerning the U.S. Bicycle Route System: Getting It Done, States Move Quickly toward Implementation September 2010, retrieved October 28, 2010
  5. ↑ http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/07/us-bicycle-route-system-begins-connecting-america.html US Bicycle Route System begins connecting America US DOT website July 2, 2010, retrieved October 28, 2010
  6. ↑ http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/us-bicycle-route-system/national-corridor-plan/ United States Bicycle Route System: National Corridor Plan 2013 retrieved May 29, 2013
  7. 1 2 http://www.waukee.org/images/content/files/maps/dallascenter_waukee_trailribboncutting_invite.pdf Ride to the Ribbon flyer, www.waukee.org website, retrieved October 17, 2011
  8. 1 2 3 Hanson, Eric (September 28, 2011). "New Trail to Connect 15 Iowa Towns". KCCI-TV. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Offenburger, Chuck (December 15, 2012). "Great News! The Raccoon River Valley Trail is completed between Dallas Center and Minburn,...". Raccoon River Valley Trail Association. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Offenburger, Chuck (January 15, 2012). "Grand Opening is set for Saturday June 1, ...". Raccoon River Valley Trail Association. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  11. ↑ http://www.dallascenter.com/dallascenter-coming-rrvt.php "Dallas Center coming RRVT", www.dallascenter.com website, retrieved October 21, 2010
  12. ↑ http://www.traillink.com/trail/raccoon-river-valley-trail.aspx Raccoon River Valley Trail Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website September 4, 2010, retrieved October 21, 2010
  13. 1 2 3 4 http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/history/ RRVT History Raccoon River Valley Trail Association website, retrieved July 14, 2009
  14. ↑ http://www.co.dallas.ia.us/index.aspx?page=886 Raccoon River Valley Trail Dallas County website retrieved February 19, 2010
  15. ↑ http://www.guthriecounty.org/gccb/index_files/parks.htm#lenon Lennon Mill Wildlife Area Guthrie County Conservation Board website retrieved July 14, 2009
  16. 1 2 3 http://www.inhf.org/racrivertrail.htm Raccoon River Valley Trail to close gap Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) website October 1999 retrieved July 17, 2009
  17. ↑ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20332607&BRD=2020&PAG=461&dept_id=231738&rfi=8 Raccoon River Valley Trail Guthrie Center Times June 17, 2009, retrieved July 17, 2009
  18. ↑ http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RRVT-Ribbon-Cutting-Poster.pdf RRVT Ribbon Cutting Poster, Raccoon River Valley Trail Association website, retrieved October 17, 2011
  19. ↑ http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/2011/05/perry-and-dawson-are-already-showing-the-impact-of-having-a-fine-new-recreational-trail-coming-through-your-town-since-the-formal-opening-of-an-8-mile-portion-of-the-raccoon-river-valley-trail-throu/ Perry and Dawson are already showing the impact..., Raccoon River Valley Trail website, May 26, 2011, retrieved October 17, 2011
  20. ↑ http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/2012/06/bummer-its-been-discovered-that-a-100-year-old-concrete-box-culvert-carrying-a-creek-under-the-former-railroad-right-of-way-in-the-west-part-of-the-town-of-jamaica-is-dangerously-deteriorated-an/ Bummer! Completion date for the Raccoon River Valley Trail's new "North Loop" now delayed..., Raccoon River Valley Trail Association website, June 14, 2012, retrieved June 27, 2012
  21. 1 2 http://www.inhf.org/trails/central-iowa-trail-network.cfm Central Iowa Trails Network Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) website retrieved July 14, 2009
  22. ↑ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20311428&BRD=2020&PAG=461&dept_id=231738&rfi=8 Corn Diplomacy Trail Guthrie Center Times, May 7, 2009, retrieved July 14, 2009
  23. ↑ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20315290&BRD=2020&PAG=461&dept_id=231738&rfi=8 Corn Diplomacy Trail Guthrie Center Times, May 14, 2009, retrieved July 14, 2009
  24. ↑ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20336286&BRD=2020&PAG=461&dept_id=231738&rfi=8 Trails Grant Guthrie Center Times, June 25, 2009, retrieved July 14, 2009
  25. ↑ http://www.inhf.org/trails/high_trestle_trail/a2w-hightrestletrail-news-5-09.htm Partners approve new trail identity as bridge construction proceeds Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) website, released May 18, 2009, retrieved February 22, 2010
  26. ↑ http://www.a2wtrail.org/ NEW NAME: Ankeny to Woodward Trail has a New Name and Logo Ankeny to Woodward Trail website released June 2009 retrieved February 22, 2010
  27. ↑ http://www.inhf.org/trails/high-trestle.cfm High Trestle Trail Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) website, retrieved June 21, 2012
  28. ↑ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20392863&BRD=2020&PAG=461&dept_id=231738&rfi=8 Snowmobile Club Guthrie Center Times December 3, 2009, retrieved October 21, 2010
  29. ↑ http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/2009/12/numbers-on-the-raccoon-river-valley-trail-are-expected-to-jump-this-winter-with-snowmobilers-now-authorized-for-the-first-time-to-use-the-trail-in-all-three-counties-a-new-regional-snowmobile-club/ Numbers on the raccoon river valley trail are exprected to jump this winter with snowmobilers now authorized for the first time to use the trail in all three counties a new regional snowmobile club Raccoon River Valley Trail website December 19, 2009, retrieved October 21, 2010
  30. 1 2 http://raccoonvalleysnowchasers.com/ Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers website
  31. ↑ http://raccoonvalleysnowchasers.com/uploads/RVSC2010mapfinal_1_.pdf Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers Snowmobile Trail Map 2010

External links

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