Raccoon River Valley Trail
89 miles of paved trail through central Iowa, and Redfield sits right on the loop.
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is one of the longest paved trails in the country. An 89-mile loop and connector system stitching together 14 small towns across Dallas, Greene, and Guthrie counties. Built on old rail lines, the trail is flat, fast, and family-friendly. Redfield is a stop on the eastern side of the loop, and the town's trailhead is a restored train depot on the south end of downtown.
The Depot
The Redfield Depot is more than a parking lot with a sign. From May through October, community volunteers open the depot as a canteen for riders on weekends. Coffee, cold drinks, snacks, restrooms, and a friendly face when you need directions or a rest. The depot itself is a restored piece of Redfield's railroad history, and it doubles as a shelter, a picnic stop, and a meeting point. A Freedom Trail marker at the depot tells the story of John Brown's February 1859 Underground Railroad stop, just east of town.
In the neighborhood
The Depot sits a short walk from downtown. Roll in for a bite at The Dairy Shoppe, take a spin around Main Street, or head south along the river to spend an afternoon at Hanging Rock Park. Everything a rider wants at the end of a long day is a few blocks away.
Amenities at the Depot
- Restrooms
- Water
- Restored depot and shelter
- Picnic tables
- Maps and trail info
- Seasonal concessions (volunteer-staffed, weekends May through October)
Events on the trail
Market to Market Relay
The Bacoon Ride
Bridge is Back Ride & Ribbon-Cutting
A community bike ride and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of the lighted bridge over the Raccoon River in Adel, followed by time to explore downtown Adel's local shops and restaurants.
Cost: Free (advance registration requested).
Celebrate Trails Day Ride
Held annually on a Saturday in late April. Begins and ends at the Forest Park Museum and Arboretum in Perry, featuring a 12-mile round-trip casual group ride to Minburn with optional health and wellness screenings, self-guided museum tours, guest remarks, and local food stops.
Cost: Free participation.
Annual Fundraising Banquet
An annual spring gathering, typically held in February or April, with keynote speakers from organizations like RAGBRAI and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, silent and live auctions, and trail champion awards.
Cost: Ticket purchase required.
Fees and permits
The trail is free for walking, running, and biking. There are no daily or annual user fees. Permits are still required for organized rides, races, and commercial events. Winter and snowmobile rules are set by the managing county conservation boards. Check the trail's official site for the latest.
Getting there
The trailhead is the Redfield Depot parking lot, just north of Highway 6.
On the trail
