and you will be more than rewarded for your efforts to reach this proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
ages a distinctive corrugated landscape.
The Loess Hills are home to some of the finest remaining native prairies and woodlands in the state. They provide wildlife such as white-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, red-tailed hawks, quail, pheasant, and prairie chickens. You will no doubt see some of these creatures during your ride or hike along the trail. As the trail makes its way through the village of Silver City you’ll find some amenities, including a water fountain (one of the few along the route, so it’s a good opportunity to fill your water bottles), some convenience stores, and a bike shop. Approximately 22 miles into the route, the Malvern Trailhead offers something of a haven for trail users, with a pharmacy, shops, and cafes serving up hardy home-style meals. The town square is a homage to cyclists and trail users with sculptures and murals decorating the sides of buildings around the quad. Next up is Imogene, where a unique trailhead offers restrooms and showers inside a refurbished grain silo. There are also some picnic tables, a bike rack, and several primitive campsites. Leaving Imogene, the trip takes on a markedly rural feel with the crushed stone path giving the illusion of traveling a country road as it passes through farm fields and eventually crossing (on scenic wooden bridges) a number of waterways, including the East Nishnabotna River, Deer Creek, and other small streams.
www.traillink.com/trail/florida-keys-overseas- heritage-trail/
Wabash Trace Nature Trail, Iowa In sharp contrast to the often-frenetic run through the Florida Keys, the Wabash Trail offers a peaceful trip through the rural forests and countryside of southwest Iowa. The trail stretches 63 miles from Council Bluffs to the tiny hamlet of Blanchard on the Iowa-Missouri border. Much of the trail follows the bed of the Wabash Railroad—and the famous Wabash Cannonball passenger train—that connected Detroit and St. Louis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The trail is noted for its breathtaking vistas, secluded wooded sections that are home to an amazing variety of tree species—oak, elm, walnut, ash, and hickory being predominant among them—and encounters with wildlife. Locals are big supporters of the trail, enjoying Thursday night “Taco Rides” and other social events. The community of Shenandoah stages the well-attended annual Wabash Trace Nature Trail Marathon, Half-Marathon, and Marathon Relay each September. Starting in Council Bluffs at the trail’s northern end, the route begins at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park with a gentle climb (the trail’s most strenuous section) of 6 miles. Next, the trail passes through an area known as the Loess Hills, named for the fine, wind-deposited soils that have created through the
History and railroad buffs should take note of a couple
Wabash Trace Nature Trail, credit Laura Stark
RAILS TO TRAILS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2025 | 16
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