Iowa\u00a0has some trails with minimal obstacles. \u00a0Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. \u00a0Here are a few of them.
\nI am sure there must be many places to go in Iowa, but wheelchair accessibility does not seem to be on Iowa’s official radar. \u00a0These\u00a0links were found through Internet search. \u00a0I would love to have some first-hand recommendations. \u00a0With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/a>
\nState<\/a>
\nLocal<\/a>
\nPrivate<\/a>
\nMiscellaneous<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/h2>\n

• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
  \n<\/strong>The refuge was\u00a0“established\u00a0as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.\u00a0 A diversity of habitat types provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes , as well as nesting sites for neotropical migrant birds and many species of resident wildlife.\u00a0”\u00a0 Here is their website.<\/a>
  \nDescriptions of the Nature Trails<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Map and Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0256-353-7243
  \n<\/a>Atkinson Trail\u00a0 length? There is a “boardwalk crossing over a cypress swamp, then continuing through a wooded area.”
  \n<\/a>Wildlife Observation Trail\u00a0 200 yards\u00a0 This trail has been designed for observing butterflies and birds.<\/p>\n

  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

  <\/a>State<\/h2>\n

  • This downloadable brochure about Iowa State Parks<\/a>\u00a0has a somewhat limited chart of amenities<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Here is a\u00a0list<\/a>, with links to Iowa’s\u00a0eighty-five State\u00a0Parks, six State\u00a0Forests, twenty-four\u00a0State\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0Areas, State\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0Management\u00a0Areas, two State\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0Refuges, and three National Wildlife Refuges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Big Creek State Park
    \n<\/strong>This state park, eleven miles NW of Des Moines is near Polk city.\u00a0 \u00a0There is fishing, hiking, hunting, and boating.\u00a0 There is an accessible fishing pier.\u00a0\u00a0Travel Iowa<\/a>\u00a0 says the park is “Accessible to Persons with Disabilities.”\u00a0 Call to be sure just what that includes: 515-984-6473.\u00a0 Here is the DNR’s website<\/a>\u00a0 and the website from Iowa Parks<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0The website says a “26-mile paved multi-use trail allows bicyclists and pedestrians to travel from the beach south through the Saylorville Lake area all the way to Des Moines.” \u00a0This sounds likely for accessibility, but you had better call to be sure.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Elinor Bedell State Park\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nThis state park near Spirit Lake is on the shore of East Lake Okoboji.\u00a0 In addition to hiking there is swimming, boating and fishing.\u00a0 Trails are paved, but call to be sure of conditions 712-337-3211.
    \nHere is the DNR’s\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0 and the more informational website from Iowa Parks<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>“The park includes an extensive system of paved hiking trails. The trails are accessible to all entrance points connecting activities and points of interest. A raised boardwalk will take park users through the wetland areas and along the lake. The system is approximately 7,500 feet in length, paved, and accessible for persons with mobility impairment.”<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • George Wyth State Park\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0–
    \nThis park near Waterloo runs along the Cedar River and includes three lakes.\u00a0 One of them,\u00a0 George Wyth Lake, is a no wake lake with a handicap accessible fishing pier. Call\u00a0\u00a0319-232-5505 for more information about accessibility and trail conditions.\u00a0 Although the trails are paved, occasional flooding on the Cedar River may make them inaccessible.\u00a0 You can download maps from their website<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 There are\u00a0 “…5.5 miles of paved multi-purpose trails, which are great for biking, in-line skating and walking.” \u00a0They don’t mention wheelchairs, but I should think a paved trail good enough for in-line skating would qualify.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong> There are 6 miles of grass hiking trails.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Lake Anita State Park\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nThis state park on Lake Anita offers fishing, hiking and camping.\u00a0\u00a0Call 712\/762-3564 to be sure of accessibility.\u00a0 You can download a map and brochure from their website<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0A 4-mile paved multi-use trail circles Lake Anita and passed through restored prairie and successional timber.\u00a0 ” The paved Grass Roots Trail connects Lake Anita with the city of Anita leading to the downtown area.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 Nature trail 1\/3 mile demonstrates some of the trees in the areas.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Lake Macbride State Park
    \n<\/strong>Lake Macbride State Park at Solon has 2,180 acres offering “Multi-use trails”, birding, swimming, boating, picnicking, camping, and fishing.\u00a0\u00a0Call 319-624-2200 for more information about accessibility.\u00a0 You can download a map and brochure from their website<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0–\u00a0 “A five-mile crushed limestone multi-use trail is located on the north side of the lake and connects the park to the community of Solon. While a majority of this trail runs along the shoreline of Lake Macbride, several portions pass through oak\/hickory forest or alongside restored Iowa prairie. More than seven miles of additional hiking trails await your visit, including one especially scenic crushed limestone trail that extends 1.25 miles between the beach and Lake Macbride\u2019s dam.”<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Lake Manawa State Park<\/strong>
    \nLake Manawa State Park, Council Bluffs has paved bike trails which may be accessible, but are not described so on the websites.\u00a0 \u00a0Call 712-366-0220 for more information.\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the DNR’s\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0 and Iowa Parks’ website<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?\u00a0 <\/strong>There are 7 miles of paved trails, but difficulty is not given.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a>The Nature Trail is paved and accessible.\u00a0 Length not given on the website.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Pine Lake State Park
    \n<\/strong>Pine Lake, west of Waterloo, has a 2.6 mile paved bike trail, but they don’t indicate on their website if it is accessible for wheelchairs. \u00a0There is a self-guided nature trail which may or may not be accessible. \u00a0Call\u00a0641-858-5832.\u00a0 Here is the DNR\u00a0website<\/a>.\u00a0 There is more information\u00a0in the\u00a0Iowa Parks’s website<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 “Multi-purpose” paved trails 2.5 miles.\u00a0 Call to find out how difficult these trails are.
    \n<\/a>?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The 2.6 mile paved bike trail connects the Cabins and Campground to the beach on Lower Pine Lake, and to fishing access on both Upper and Lower Pine Lakes. Other trails circle Lower Pine Lake, or wind through bottomland forest along the Iowa River.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a>Local<\/h2>\n

    • Council Bluffs
      \n<\/strong>Here is Council Bluffs Parks and Recreation’s website<\/a>.\u00a0 Their phone number is 712-890-5291.
      \n<\/a>The Iowa School of the Deaf Nature Center Trail\u00a0 is a one mile trail with historical markers, and restorations of a wetland and tall grass prairie and a wild flower plot.\u00a0 Location Map<\/a>.\u00a0 The trail reviewed on AllTrails.com<\/a> .
      \n<\/a>Valley View Trail 8.4 miles runs along the\u00a0eastern side of Council Bluffs.\u00a0 The description on AllTrails.com<\/a> says that it is “wheelchair friendly”.<\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n

      .<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Montgomery County
      \n<\/strong>Here is the county parks website.\u00a0<\/a>
      \n<\/strong>Pilot Grove Park <\/a>is a twenty acre park\u00a0includes a campground and a six acre lake.
      \n<\/a>0.5 mile trail around the lake.<\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Pottawattamie County<\/strong>
      \n<\/a>Hitchcock Nature Center<\/a> has 10 miles of trails, many of which are marked easy on the trail map<\/a>. \u00a0MomsOfOmaha.com<\/a> mentions a wheelchair accessible nature trail, although I don’t see it on the map. \u00a0Call\u00a0712-545-3283 for information.<\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Woodbury County\u00a0<\/strong>To learn more about the two areas below, call 701-258-0838
      \n<\/a>Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0at Sioux City has a wheelchair accessible trail. Length not given. \u00a0\u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
      \n<\/a>Fowler Forest<\/a> has a wooded loop trail which may be easy. \u00a0Map<\/a><\/p>\n

      <\/a>Little Sioux Park<\/a> (phone 712-372-4984) has a 1 3\/4 mile concrete trail. \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 “The Union Bridge Trail connects the park to the town of Correctionville with a ten foot wide concrete path that winds through scenic areas and crossing the Little Sioux River with a spectacular bridge.”
      \n<\/a>Snyder Bend<\/a>\u00a0 (phone\u00a0712-946-5622) has an “accessible limestone and concrete trail.” \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 There is also an accessible fishing dock.<\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

      <\/a>Private<\/h2>\n

      Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

      <\/a>Miscellaneous<\/h2>\n

      • Nature For The Blind<\/a> has a directory of Braille trails for almost every state in the US and for many other countries.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

      • The\u00a0Rails-to-Trails Conservancy<\/a>\u00a0lists wheelchair accessible trails in Iowa.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul> Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Iowa\u00a0has some trails with minimal obstacles. \u00a0Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. \u00a0Here are a few of them. I am sure there must be many places to go in Iowa, but wheelchair accessibility does not seem to be on Iowa’s official radar. \u00a0These\u00a0links were found through Internet search. \u00a0I would love to … Continue reading Rails-to-Trails – Iowa<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-350","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=350"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5856,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350\/revisions\/5856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}