Where to Find Iowa Trail Guides and Current INHF Trail Projects

Updated

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) publishes its trail resources in two main places on inhf.org: the Trails Guide and Iowa Trails FAQ under "What We Do → Multi-Use Trails," and the Current Projects list, which names specific trail connections the organization is working on. A separate site, Iowa By Trail, is linked from INHF's navigation for trail users, and the Map of INHF Projects shows protected land and project locations across the state. Use the guide and FAQ for planning a ride or hike; use Current Projects and the map to see what INHF is actively building or protecting.

Trail Guides and the Iowa Trails FAQ

INHF's Multi-Use Trails section is the starting point for trail information. It contains:

  • Trails Guide — INHF's trail resource page, reached from the main navigation under "What We Do → Multi-Use Trails."
  • Current Projects — the list of trail efforts INHF is supporting (see below).
  • Iowa Trails FAQ — answers to common questions about Iowa's trail system, linked from the same section.

The FAQ is the better first stop if you have a general question, such as how Iowa's multi-use trails are organized or how INHF relates to trail development. The Trails Guide is the better stop if you want to browse trails themselves.

Current INHF Trail Projects

INHF's Current Projects page lists the trail connections it is working on. The projects named in the site's navigation are:

Project What it connects or covers
Connector to link High Trestle Trail with Raccoon River Valley Trail A connector between two of central Iowa's best-known trails
High Trestle Trail to Swede Point Park Connection Links the High Trestle Trail to Swede Point Park
Admiral Trail Listed INHF trail project
Laurens Trail Connection Listed INHF trail project
Dry Run Trail Listed INHF trail project
Coon Rapids to Herndon Trail Listed INHF trail project
Red Rock Prairie Trail Listed INHF trail project
Iowa River's Edge Trail Listed INHF trail project

The High Trestle Trail connections are the most specific examples on the page: both are described as connectors, one joining the High Trestle Trail to the Raccoon River Valley Trail and one joining it to Swede Point Park. If your interest is in a particular region, scan this list first — it is the clearest signal of where INHF's trail work is concentrated.

Iowa By Trail and the Project Map

Two more entry points sit in INHF's main navigation:

  • Iowa By Trail — a linked resource for trail users, listed alongside "Iowa Land Options" and "Shop" in the site's top navigation. Follow it when you want trail-oriented trip planning rather than organizational project news.
  • Map of INHF Projects — linked from the "What We Do" section. Use it to see where INHF projects, including trail work, are located geographically.

How to Choose

  • Planning a trip or looking for a trail to use: start with the Trails Guide, then Iowa By Trail.
  • Want to know what INHF is building or connecting right now: go to Current Projects and the Map of INHF Projects.
  • Have a general question about Iowa trails: check the Iowa Trails FAQ.
  • Want to get involved in trail work: INHF's Take Action section lists volunteer opportunities, and its Events page includes workdays such as seed harvests and trail-related volunteer events.

One practical note: the Current Projects list names projects but the navigation itself gives little detail on status or timelines. For updates, INHF points readers to its Blog and its email updates ("Stay up-to-date with INHF projects, events and news"), which are the places to watch for progress on specific trail connections.