Great Western Trail (Iowa)
{{Short description|Rail trail in south-central Iowa, U.S.}}
{{distinguish|Great Western Trail}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{coord|41.374109|-93.745539|display=title}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
| name = Great Western Trail
| embed =
| cellstyle =
| title =
| photo = Image:Great Western Trail Iowa.jpg
| caption = The Great Western Trail south of Cumming
| location = Central Iowa, United States
| established = {{start date and age|1992}}{{cite web| url=https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/parks-trails/great-western-trail/| title=Great Western Trail|access-date=November 5, 2020}}
| designation =
| length_mi=16.5
| trailheads = Des Moines
Cumming
Martensdale
| use = Hiking, biking
| elev_gain_and_loss =
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| surface = Asphalt
| ROW = Formerly the Chicago and North Western Railway.{{cite web| url=https://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Warren/Park/Great-Western-Trail.aspx| website=My County Parks| title=Great Western Trail|access-date=2022-11-27}}
| website =
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| map = {{maplink-road|frame=yes|from=GreatWesternTrailIowa.map|type=line|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#0e2c6c|}}}}
The Great Western Trail is a rail trail in the Des Moines metropolitan area south-central Iowa, United States. There is also the Great Western Trail in Illinois, which utilizes the same right-of-way.
Description
The trails is {{convert|16.5|mi}} long and paved with asphalt.{{cite web| url=https://desmoinesoutdoors.com/great-western-trail-an-iowa-outdoor-experience-that-has-it-all/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526012004/https://desmoinesoutdoors.com/great-western-trail-an-iowa-outdoor-experience-that-has-it-all/| url-status=usurped| archive-date=May 26, 2021| website=Des Moines Outdoiors| title=Great Western Trail| access-date=2022-11-27}} Starting in Water Works Park in Des Moines at its north end, it passes through suburban areas, Willow Creek Golf Course, fields, farmland, and the wooded valley of the North River, with a southern terminus in Martensdale.{{Cite web| url=http://www.iowabytrail.com/find-a-trail/69/great-western-trail/| website=Iowa By Trail| title=Great Western Trail| access-date=2022-11-27}}
The trail follows the route of an abandoned line of the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railroad, constructed in 1899. It is named after the Chicago Great Western Railway, which last operated trains over the segment in 1968. The trail is maintained by the Conservation Boards of Polk and Warren Counties.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Great Western Trail (Iowa)}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511154531/http://www.iowatourism.com/trails.html Iowa Tourism-Trails]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070213030058/http://www.warrenccb.org/areas/gwt/gwt.html Warren County Conservation Board-Great Western Trail]
{{Iowa hiking trails}}
Category:Protected areas of Polk County, Iowa
Category:Protected areas of Warren County, Iowa
Category:Geography of Des Moines, Iowa
Category:Transportation in Des Moines, Iowa