Raccoon River Valley Trail

Becoming one of America's favorite trails.

The Raccoon River Valley Trail is a 89-mile multi-use recreational trail that extends from Clive, in the Des Moines metropolitan area, to Jefferson. In 2013, the 33-mile-long “North Loop,” was completed, adding the communities of Dallas Center, Minburn, Perry, Dawson, and Jamaica and creating a 77-mile complete loop that some riders can do in one day.

The trail winds its way through the Middle and North Raccoon River corridors with area of prairie and canopies of timber that remind us of what Iowa was like in the 1870s. From the trailhead in Waukee going west, you will experience the communities of Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene counties. Going east, the RRVT connects with the extensive trail system in Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines.

In 2004, a non-profit organization, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, was formed to promote and market the trail. The board is comprised of 19 volunteers from all three counties and is the force behind new signage up and down the trail. The Association also works closely with towns along the trail to help them develop new businesses and attractions that will interest the estimated 125,000 bikes who use the trail annually.

Annual activities on the trail include the "Market to Market Relay/Iowa" in May and the "BACooN Ride" in June. Each of these events bring anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 riders to the RRVT.