Great Western Trail
91Great Western Trail is a 12.6-mile bike path in and around Des Moines, IA. 100% of it has a smooth, kid-friendly surface. 98% of it is away from cars. There's restrooms and parking within half a mile. We didn't find public playgrounds within half a mile. PedalKin gives it a kid score of 91 out of 100.
12.6 mi · 100% smooth surface · 98% away from cars
Scores are based on OpenStreetMap data and may be out of date or wrong. Always check trail conditions, closures and your child's readiness before you ride. Disclaimer
Best place to start
Park at Water Works Park, off George Flagg Parkway, right by the trail. From the lot, restrooms are about 100 feet away.
- The trail
- Playground
- Restroom
- Parking
- Best place to start
Playgrounds and restrooms within half a mile are shown. Parking lots are shown if they're within about 200 m (one or two blocks), plus the closest one. Tap a dot or icon for its name.
Close by
Parks within half a mile of the trail, closest first, and what they have.
- Water Works Park (along the trail): 3 restrooms and 2 parking lots
Plus 6 parking lots outside parks, shown on the map.
Gear for this ride
Make it a big day out
At 12.6 miles, there's more trail than most kids can pedal. A cargo bike, trailer or tag-along gets everyone to the end and back. Ways to carry kids
Helmets on
A helmet that fits sits level, two fingers above the eyebrows. Here's what to look for. Kids' helmets
Snack stops
Snacks and water keep a ride happy. Spill-proof cups help for kids in a seat. Snacks and water
Nearby trails
These trails connect to or come within a block or two of Great Western Trail.
- Meredith Trail · 8.3 mi · kid score 97
More Des Moines trails
- Carl Voss Trail · 4.6 mi · kid score 100
- Central Place Levee Trail · 1.4 mi · kid score 100
- McHenry Park Trail · 0.5 mi · kid score 100
- Walnut Creek Trail · 3.2 mi · kid score 99
- Levee Trail · 2.7 mi · kid score 95
All Des Moines trails · Trails in Omaha, Sioux City, Kansas City