Raccoon River Valley Trail

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Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is a rail trail running 56 miles (90 km) from Waukee, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa. In 2013, an additional 33.1-mile (53.3 km) north loop was completed on the RRVT, making the RRVT nearly 90 miles (140 km) of paved trails and having a paved interior loop of more than 72 miles (116 km). The 39-mile (63 km) portion of the trail from Waukee to Herndon is part of the American Discovery Trail, which runs between Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware and Point Reyes near the Bay Area of California. In Iowa, the American Discovery Trail will be concurrent with U.S. Bicycle Route 50 (see United States Numbered Bicycle Routes).^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

The recreational trail runs through the counties of Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene in Iowa. It is a paved trail, mainly asphalt,^[a] though three sections are concrete. One concrete section extends from Jefferson south for four miles (6 km). Another concrete section is an eighteen-mile (30 km) section connecting Redfield, Linden, Panora, and Yale.^[b] Constructed during 2010–2013, the 33.1-mile (53.3 km) North Loop, which runs between Dawson and Waukee through Perry, Minburn, and Dallas Center, is the third concrete section.^{[15][16][17][18][19]} In March 2024, the Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace announced that the bridge over the North Raccoon River on the east side of Adel will be closed in the fall of 2024 in order to resurface and widen the bridge from 10 feet to 12 feet which will allow emergency vehicles and maintenance equipment better access to the trail.^[14]

Between Yale and Ortonville, which was a trail head 3 miles east of Adel, the 31 miles (50 km) of trail is very scenic and mostly tree covered. The north loop between Herndon and Waukee, is wider, nearly flat, and is much more exposed to the sun and wind.

In March 2024, Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace stated that the connector between the High Trestle Trail and the Raccoon River Valley Trail will be completed and opened for use on August 16, 2024.^[14][20]

On April 8, 2024, Waukee officials discussed a Hickman Road Pedestrian Crossing study which would involve constructing a tunnel for pedestrians and bicyclists under Hickman Road at 10th Street near the RRVT trailhead in Waukee and a bridge or overpass for pedestrians and bicyclists at Warrior Lane over Hickman Road.^[21][22]

By 2007, the conservation board directors estimated that more than 125,000 people use this trail each year.^[23] In 2014, the Dallas County Conservation Department estimated over 330,000 trail users of the RRVT annually.^[24] In March 2024, the Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace stated that 150,000 persons used the RRVT in 2023 which was the last year of the annual fee: 2024 is the first year of no daily or annual fee for trail users; however, special permits will be needed for event organizers for events held on the trail.^[14][25][26]

Since the late 2000s, Snyder & Associates has been the engineering firm which supports development and upkeep of the Raccoon River Valley Trail as well as the High Trestle Trail and the nine-mile connector between the two trails.^{[27][28][29][30][31][32]}

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