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Heart of IA Nature Trail

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail: 32-Mile Multi-Use Recreational Trail

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail:

For Bikers, Hikers, Snowmobilers, & More

Current Conditions

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is paved from the junction of the High Trestle Trail in Slater to the South Skunk River Bridge just east of Cambridge. The portion east of the South Skunk River Bridge contains both a 10-foot wide limestone trail and a grass trail.

Snowmobiles are permitted when conditions allow.

Scenic prairie lines the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail in many areas, including this field of Purple prairie phlox in bloom.
The Skunk River bridge overlook near Cambridge, IA offers trail users a place to stop for a break or even a scenic photo.
Bridge over Rock Creek just outside Maxwell, IA.
The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail traverses the central Iowa landscape, crossing through timber, prairie, farmland, and more.
The South Skunk River bridge in Cambridge is just one of many scenic overlooks on the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail.

Fast Facts
Trailheads
Trail Ties
National Importance

Fast Facts

HEART OF IOWA NATURE TRAIL - FAST FACTS

Length:

32 miles (Please note the trail is not continuous for all of those miles. See map above)

Surface:

Paved from junction at High Trestle Trail in Slater to South Skunk River Bridge at Cambridge (nine miles).

Limestone trail with adjacent grass trail from South Skunk River Bridge at Cambridge going east.

*See above map for more details*

Hours: 5:00 A.M. to 10:30 P.M.

Admissions: Free to all users.

Trailheads

HEART OF IOWA NATURE TRAIL - TRAILHEADS

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is not a complete, continuous trail at this time. However, you can use a combination of the crushed limestone/paved trail surface, county roads, and city streets to ride, run, or walk seamlessly from Slater to Collins, thus completing the entire Story County portion of the trail.

We have provided info on developed trailheads with water and bathroom facilities below to help you better plan your trip. Parking information is also listed below.

Trailheads:

Slater – Trailhead and Arboretum located on northeast corner of Slater on 510th [R-38/Linn Street] .5 miles north of Highway 210
Huxley – Railroad Park, Railway and South Main (3.5 blocks west of Highway 69 on East First Street, one block south on Main.
Cambridge – Trailhead is at the Cambridge City Park – Water Street and 3rd Street (under the water tower) Mousehole Bridge - .5 miles north of 315th Street on 593rd Avenue
Maxwell – The trail that goes west starts .10 mile north of 210 on Army Post Road. The trail heads east out of town at Legion Park between Broad/First/Metcalf/Woodlawn Streets.
Collins –Trailhead is located at Railway Street and 2nd Avenue, a parking lot is also located three miles east of Collins at the intersection of 730th Ave. and 310th St. (30912 730th Ave., Collins, 50055)
Rhodes (Marshall County)– Trailhead is located on the south end of Main Street.

Trail Ties

HEART OF IOWA NATURE TRAIL - TRAIL TIES

High Trestle Trail

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail western terminus leads into the High Trestle Trail in the city of Slater. Heading west will take you toward Madrid and the landmark High Trestle Trail Bridge. Heading south will take you to the city of Ankeny and further into the Central Iowa Trails network.

Central Iowa Trails Network

The east-west segment of the High Trestle Trail travels through Madrid and Woodward and contains the nationally-recognized High Trestle Trail Bridge (one of the largest pedestrian bridges in the world at 1/2-mile long and 13 stories tall).

View an interactive map Central Iowa Trails and their amenities here..

Future goals of the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail include connecting eastward to:

Cities of Melbourne and Marshalltown
Iowa 330 Trail
Marshall County Conservation's Grimes Farm and Conservation Center
Chichaqua Valley Trail

National Importance

HEART OF IOWA NATURE TRAIL - NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

American Discovery Trail

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is part of the American Hiking Society's American Discovery Trail. This trail system passes through several metropolitan areas and incorporates many trails as it passes from the East to the West Coast of the United States. In Iowa, the ADT begins at Council Bluffs and follows the Raccoon River Valley, Des Moines River Greenway, Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, Cedar Valley, and Hoover Nature Trails crossing the Mississippi at Davenport.

Great American Rail-Trail

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is also part of the Great American Rail-Trail -- a signature project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The Great American Rail-Trail is the nation’s first cross-country multi-use trail, stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C. and Washington state. The preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail connects over 145 existing rail-trails, greenways, and other multi-use paths. These trails are hosting the Great American through their communities, making possible this grand vision of a nation connected by trails.

Multi-Use Recreational Trail

Biking
Walk + Run
Nature + Wildlife
Equestrian
Snow-mobiling

Biking

BIKING / CYCLING

Paved sections of the trail are suited for all types of bikes including the “skinny” road tires. The compacted limestone surfacing can accommodate all types of bicycles but we recommend a little larger tire like those on hybrid or touring bikes.

There are some gravel sections of the trail.

Walk + Run

WALK + RUN

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail is often promoted as a bike trail, but it is certainly open to all uses and is frequented by many routine runners and walkers!

If specifically interested in hitting a section of paved/limestone trail, be sure to check out the map above. The terrain is rather beginner-friendly, as the trail is rather flat as a whole.

Please note that the trail is not continuous for all 32 mi. and in areas it is necessary to briefly hop onto bike lanes of paved highway. If looking to avoid using bike lanes, etc., we encourage you to study our map prior to setting out on the trail for the day!

Nature + Wildlife

NATURE + WILDLIFE

Diverse prairie lines the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail along much of its course and offers fantastic viewing of both plants and wildlife in those areas.

The former Milwaukee Road Railroad corridor was disturbed at one time for the development of the tracks; however, it was done so long ago that the surrounding native prairie population was able to repopulate naturally. This area was then managed as a grassland ecosystem, allowing the remnant prairie population to persist.

Today, there are still a few high quality sections of prairie remnant along the trail. One particular section is directly east of Slater. In this section, you’ll find Lee Prairie as pictured above, as well as large numbers of prairie phlox, purple prairie clover, compass plant, blue flag iris, along with countless other native plants.

Segments along Cambridge, Maxwell, and Collins are surrounded by riparian and early successional woodlands. In these areas, you can enjoy shade provide by large cottonwood trees.

Equestrian

EQUESTRIAN USE

Horses are allowed on all sections of the trail, on the mowed grass portions of the trail only and should stay off concrete, limestone, and asphalt. A 10-foot wide grass path lies adjacent to most of the trail for equestrian use.

Trailer parking:

Available at Slater,, Maxwell, Collins, and Rhodes.
- Huxley's trailhead does not accommodate equestrians; however, water and restroom facilities are available.

Snow-mobiling

SNOWMOBILE USE:
Snowmobiles are allowed on the trail when snow conditions allow. All other motorized vehicles are prohibited. The Saylorville Dam Snowmobile Club grooms and marks the trail for winter use as well as picking up trash and keeping the trail clean through our Adopt-A-Park Program.
Snowmobiles should slow down when approaching other trail users.

View all snowmobile rules in our Rules and Regulations.

Currently 24 miles of the 32-mile rail corridor are developed with over nine miles recently paved. However, the trail is not continuous for all of those miles.

Development Plans

The first stretch the HOINT, 4 miles between Slater and Huxley, was paved in summer 2019 and was 75% funded by grants. The 3.32-mile stretch from Huxley to the South Skunk River Bridge past Cambridge was completed in fall of 2020, with a substantial portion of this section secured through grants also.

Plans are underway to pave between the Skunk River Bridge and the City of Collins in 2024. The HOINT will continue to be paved as funds come available according to the master plan. Paving will improve connectivity between communities and the High Trestle Trail and will provide additional opportunities for people to engage in nature.

Want to help us with matching funds for grant applications? Donate here: https://bit.ly/PaveHOINT

The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail (HOINT) is a cooperative effort of the Story and Marshall County Conservation Boards and an important part of the Central Iowa Trails System. This 32-mile recreational corridor follows the former Milwaukee Railroad stretching from Slater to Melbourne and traversing what were once seven small, thriving railroad communities right in the Heart of Iowa. This multi-purpose trail accommodates bicyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, and snowmobilers.

Carroll Prairie
Christiansen Forest Preserve
Cooper's Prairie Marsh
Dakins Lake
Deppe Family Conservation Area
Doolittle Prairie
Ed Powell Wildlife Area
Gladys Leui Preserve
Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
Hertz Family Woods & Nature Preserve
Hickory Grove Park
1. Hickory Grove Lake Restoration
Jennett Heritage Area
Jim Ketelsen "Greenwing" Marsh
Larson Marsh
Leopold Woods
McFarland Park & Story County Conservation Center
O'Neil Prairie
Osheim Prairie & Slough Preserve - New!
Peterson Park
Praeri Rail Trail
Robison Wildlife Acres
Roland Wildlife Area
Ronald "Dick" Jordan Family Wildlife Area
Sheffield Wildlife Area
Skunk River Flats
Skunk River Greenbelt
South Skunk River Water Trail
Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor
1. TrailsRx
Tedesco Connector Trail
Wakefield Woods
Wicks Wildlife Area
Heart of IA Nature Trail

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