Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside by Quincy Carroll

You’ll also pass under an old wooden trestle bridge on your way to Carroll. Keep your eyes open for deer and rabbits you might catch a fleeting glimpse of them as they dive into the underbrush along the trail. Windmills dot the horizon, and you’ll likely see cows out in the pastures. South of Breda, the vista opens up to expansive farm fields. Be sure to have a look inside the community’s restored 1905 depot, which sits trailside and includes memorabilia from the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Heading south, you’re soon enveloped by trees as you travel through a wildlife area and, just a mile later, alongside Black Hawk Marsh.Īfter about 13 miles of riding, you’ll reach Breda, home to about 500 residents. Black Hawk Lake State Park is nestled against its shoreline the 86-acre site offers numerous amenities for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and horseback riding.Ī trail user fee of $2 per day is required for individuals age 18 and older look for the self-service pay box at the trailhead. As you face the trail, you can swing your head to the left to see Black Hawk Lake just two blocks down. Start at the trail’s north end in Lake View to be welcomed by a unique sculpture over the trail entrance: an arch made of bicycles.

Friendly small towns every few miles add comfort and convenience, while frequent nods to the corridor’s railroad past add historical interest.

The paved 33-mile trail is capped at either end by a state park and offers a diverse mix of views and experiences in between. The Sauk Rail Trail offers some of the best riding in rural, west-central Iowa.

Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside by Quincy Carroll