Map of bike paths / walking paths in the Council Bluffs area

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Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Council Bluffs is located in Pottawattamie County in Southwest Iowa. It sits directly across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. The city has a number of recreational trails for bike riding, walking, running, enjoying the outdoors and commuting to work or school. Some of these trails connect to trails in the Omaha Metro area. There are also trails that lead to the 62-mile long Wabash Trace Nature Trail that extends as far south as the border with Missouri.

Iowa Riverfront Trail

The Iowa Riverfront Trail is a 6.5-mile long paved pathway that is located on the west side of Council Bluffs. Much of the trail follows along side the east banks of the Missouri River. You can also connect to the riverfront trails and Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha by using the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.

The Iowa Riverfront Trail system starts in the north at Big Lake Park on N 15th Street on the north side of town. The trail heads south going past Blackbird Marsh Country Preserve. From there the trail travels along the south side of Interstate 29 to N 25th Street. You can catch the trail again on the north side of the interstate on N. 25th Street.

The trail now follows the shore of the river and heads to the south. It goes by Playland Park and Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park. In this area there is the access path leading to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge if you wish to cross the Missouri River. The Iowa Riverfront Trail then tucks under Interstate 480 and goes past Dodge Riverside Golf Club and around the casinos.

The current south end of the Iowa Riverfront Trail is located at Interstate 80 where there is a junction with the Western Historic Trail.

Indian Creek Trail

The Indian Creek Trail is a 3.5-mile long paved pathway that extends from 16th Avenue near S. 16th Street to the south side of Lake Manawa.

Western Historic Trail

The Western Historic Trail is a 3-mile long paved trail that extends from its junction with the Iowa Riverfront Trail near where  Interstate 80 crosses the Missouri River to the Highway 275 where it joins the Indian Creek Trail. The trail goes past the Western Historical Center and travels along the north side of the athletic fields at the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex. From the Western Historic Trail, you can also connect to the Highway 275 Trail that allows you to travel over the bridge to connect to trails in Omaha.

Lake Manawa Trail

There are paved pathways at Lake Manawa State Park for walking and bike riding. The lake is located on the south side of Council Bluffs. The trails connect to the Indian Creek Trail.

Valley View Trail

The Valley View Trail is a paved pathway that follows alongside Valley View Drive on the east side of the city. It connects with other roadside trails and with the Wabash Connector Trail that leads to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a 62-mile long mostly unpaved trail that extends form the southeast side of Council Bluffs to the small community of Blanchard on the Iowa / Missouri state line.The trailhead is located at E. South Omaha Bridge Road and Wabash Avenue across from Titan Hill Intermediate School and near Lewis Central Middle School.

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a lovely tree lined trail that goes across open farmland and forested stretches. The trail passes through the Loess Hills area and several small farming communities, including Shanandoah. The trail was constructed along an abandoned railroad bed, has limited road crossings and has gentle grades. The crushed limestone surface may not be approprate for all types of bicycles.

Read more about the Wabash Trace Nature Trail

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Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trails in and around Council Bluffs, Iowa.