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The High Trestle Trail is a wonderful, paved rail-trail that runs for 31 miles between Woodward and Oralabor. The trail is especially known for the 130-foot-tall High Trestle Bridge, which contains the From Here to There art installation — 43 twisting, diamond-shaped steel ribs lined with LED lights. Run here at night! While the closest access point of the trail to Des Moines is in Oralabor, it’s worth the 1/2 hour drive to the area around the High Trestle Bridge.
From the trailhead off S Main St. in Woodward, head east on the trail, passing through farmland. Just east of the Des Moines River, at the 3.7-mile mark is the High Trestle Bridge/From Here to There. Continue east, passing through a combination of farmland and wooded landscape. Madrid is at ~5 miles. At 12 miles in Slater (nice wildflowers in season), the trail heads south through Sheldahl, Crocker, & Ankeny, ending just south at Oralabor.
Additional Connections: Heart of Iowa Trail (Huxley, just east of Slater); Oralabor Gateway Trail (off SE Oralabor Rd.).
- Up to 30 miles. From the Woodward Trailhead, it's 3.7 miles to the High Trestle Bridge
- Fairly flat. It's 586 feet (178m) from north to south
- Woodward
- Parking at Woodward. Also parking at the High Trestle Bridge & other access points
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