High Trestle Trail Bridge

State: Iowa. Type: rail-trail and signature pedestrian/bicycle bridge spanning the Des Moines River valley in central Iowa. Trail runs roughly 25-32 miles (sources vary) between Woodward and Ankeny through Polk, Story, Boone and Dallas counties. Opened to the public April 30, 2011. The bridge itself is about 130 feet (13 stories) high and roughly half a mile (770 m) long, featuring the 'From Here to There' art installation of 43 lit steel ribs.

The High Trestle Trail is a paved rail-to-trail path through central Iowa connecting the towns of Woodward, Madrid, Slater, Sheldahl and Ankeny along a former Union Pacific Railroad freight corridor. Its centerpiece is the High Trestle Trail Bridge, a dramatic elevated crossing of the Des Moines River valley that rises roughly 13 stories above the water and stretches nearly half a mile. Rather than a plain utilitarian crossing, the bridge doubles as public art: 43 twisting, diamond-shaped steel ribs designed by RDG Dahlquist Art Studio line the walkway, referencing the area's coal-mining history by evoking the view down a mine shaft, and they light up after dark, staying lit from dusk until midnight in summer and until 9 p.m. in winter. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased the underlying rail corridor from Union Pacific in 2005 and transferred it to nine public partners, including Polk, Story, Boone and Dallas county conservation boards and several cities, who jointly manage different sections of the trail today. Since opening in 2011, the bridge in particular has become one of Iowa's most recognizable pieces of public infrastructure-as-art, drawing cyclists, walkers and photographers well beyond the immediate area.

The High Trestle Trail runs through central Iowa across Polk, Story, Boone and Dallas counties, with trailheads in Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward. The signature bridge crosses the Des Moines River valley between Madrid and Woodward.

Central Iowa has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The trail is used year-round, including for cross-country skiing in winter, though the exposed bridge deck can be windy and cold in that season.

Spring through fall offers the most comfortable conditions for biking or walking the full 25-plus-mile trail, and evening visits to see the bridge's lit steel ribs are popular from dusk (lit until midnight in summer, 9 p.m. in winter). The flat, paved surface also supports winter use, including cross-country skiing, for visitors who don't mind cold, exposed conditions on the bridge.

The trail follows a discontinued Union Pacific Railroad freight line; the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased roughly 439 acres of the corridor from Union Pacific in 2005 (with the railroad donating over $3 million in land value) and transferred it to nine public partners, including the Polk, Story, Boone and Dallas county conservation boards and the cities of Ankeny, Madrid, Slater and Woodward, for joint management. A 2005 congressional appropriation of $5.6 million helped launch development, with trail sections built out between 2006 and 2008. The bridge itself was completed with the help of a $1.75 million Vision Iowa grant funding its superstructure, and the trail, including the bridge, opened to the public on April 30, 2011. Engineering firm Snyder and Associates designed the trail, while RDG Dahlquist Art Studio created the bridge's rib artwork and lighting, intentionally referencing the region's mining heritage.

Biking and walking the paved trail, especially the signature crossing of the High Trestle Trail Bridge, is the primary activity; the flat, smooth surface with no significant hills makes it accessible to casual riders and families. Horseback riding, inline skating, and wheelchair use are also permitted on sections of the trail, and cross-country skiing is popular in winter. Many visitors specifically time a trip for after dark to see the bridge's LED-lit steel ribs illuminated against the night sky.

The High Trestle Trail Bridge, with its 43 illuminated steel rib art installation ('From Here to There') by RDG Dahlquist Art Studio, is the trail's main destination. Trailheads and small-town stops in Woodward, Madrid, Slater, Sheldahl and Ankeny offer places to pause, park, or grab supplies along the route.

The trail's southeastern end connects to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail near Ankeny, roughly a 20-25 minute drive north of Des Moines, while its northwestern end sits at Quinlan Avenue in Woodward; sources consulted did not specify a nearest commercial airport, though Des Moines International Airport is the major regional airport for central Iowa. Most visitors drive to one of the trailheads (Ankeny, Slater, Madrid or Woodward) and park before biking or walking.

The trail is a public, unstaffed rail-trail generally accessible from dawn to dusk for daytime use, with the bridge's art lighting running from dusk until midnight in summer and until 9 p.m. in winter; sources consulted did not list a specific gate-closing time or seasonal closure schedule beyond the lighting hours.

The trail is free and open to the public with no admission fee; sources consulted did not indicate any parking or user fees at the trailheads.

Riding the full trail end to end (roughly 25-32 miles depending on the source) is a half-day to full-day trip by bike; a shorter visit focused just on crossing the High Trestle Trail Bridge from the nearest trailhead (Madrid or Woodward) can be done in an hour or two.

The small towns along the route (Woodward, Madrid, Slater, Sheldahl, Ankeny) offer limited lodging directly on the trail, while Ankeny and the greater Des Moines metro area, a short drive south, provide a much wider range of hotel chains; sources consulted did not name specific properties.

Small-town cafes and casual restaurants can be found in trailhead towns such as Madrid, Slater and Ankeny, with a broader selection of dining available in the Des Moines metro area to the south; sources consulted did not name specific restaurants.

The trail connects directly to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail near Ankeny, part of central Iowa's broader regional trail network, extending riding options toward the Des Moines metro area.

Des Moines International Airport, in the Des Moines metro area to the south, is the major regional airport for visitors flying in; sources consulted did not specify an exact distance from the trail. A personal vehicle is the practical way to reach trailheads, since the towns along the route do not have a dedicated public transit line serving the trail directly.

Because sections of the bridge are elevated and can be windy, cyclists and pedestrians should stay alert on the deck, especially at night despite the art lighting. Share the path courteously with horses, skaters and pedestrians, since the trail permits multiple uses. For any emergency, dial 911.

A bike (or rental, if available locally), a helmet, water, and a light or reflective gear if planning an evening visit to see the illuminated bridge are worth packing. Layered clothing helps for the exposed, elevated bridge crossing, which can be cooler and windier than the surrounding trail.

Plan an evening visit to see the High Trestle Trail Bridge's lit steel ribs, checking the seasonal lighting schedule (dusk-to-midnight in summer, dusk-to-9 p.m. in winter) before you go. Because the trail spans multiple counties and management partners, trailhead amenities can vary; check with Polk County Conservation or the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for current trailhead facilities before a long ride.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For trail management questions, Polk County Conservation, one of the trail's managing partners, maintains visitor information for its section of the High Trestle Trail.

Polk County Conservation - https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/parks-trails/high-trestle-trail/ ; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation - https://www.inhf.org/what-we-do/protection/high-trestle-trail

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.