Recreation Trails

Council Bluffs is home to a nearly 30-mile continuous system of trails! The paved system is largely poured concrete and asphalt, with some bike lanes used to link certain points of the trail together.

Trails lead throughout the city, and will soon cross the Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge, which will link Iowa and Nebraska

Click here to download the Metro Trails Map.
Revised January, 2008

Recreation Trails and the Parks

There are many entrances to the trails through our city parks system. Look for a new segment of trail between the South Expressway on the old Wabash Railroad Right-Of-Way, running through the south end, connecting to the Indian Creek Trail near Katelman Water Park, to be completed in 2007.

From the north, the trail flows from Big Lake Park to N. 25th Street, then follows the Missouri River levy, past the Dodge Riverside Golf Course to the Western Historic Trails Center. A tour of this section offers stunning views of the river and Omaha's riverfront development.

Big Lake Trail is the northern starting point for Council Bluffs' recreation trails.
The Riverfront section follows the Missouri River levy system from N. 25th Street to the Western Historic Trails Center.

The trail continues east and south through the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex and through Lake Manawa State Park. Paralleling Mosquito Creek, the trail heads east to the Iowa West Foundation Trail Head Park (aka Wabash Trace), through the Iowa School for the Deaf Nature Area, and along Valley View Drive to Valley View Park, where it turns into a bike lane to McPherson Avenue, then turns back into a recreational trail headed north to Iowa Western Community College.

The trail leads south on 24th street and east on South Omaha Bridge Road.
A 309 foot bridge spans Indian Creek as the trail flows into Lake Manawa State Park.
Trail users can explore several smaller paths throughout Lake Manawa State Park.
Trails Have Our Respect (THOR)

Is mountain biking your thing? Then THOR can help! Ride the trails, learn more about trail-building, and take part in work days.

Click here to reach the THOR website.

THOR maintains the mountain bike trail at Lewis and Clark Monument and Scenic Overlook.

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