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Wabash Trace Nature Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 206 Google reviews · Running trail in Council Bluffs, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Wabash Trace Nature Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Route for walking, biking and running with a crushed-limestone surface and several bridges.
What runners say about Wabash Trace Nature Trail
“Well maintained and shaded, making it great for those hot days with a stop about 5 miles down for resting and grills if you want to enjoy an afternoon or evening out.”
“This a very beautiful place to walk and the nature outside and take so beautiful pictures”
“This trail is great for biking, walking, and running.”
“Well maintained and shaded, making it great for those hot days with a stop about 5 miles down for resting and grills if you want to enjoy an afternoon or evening out.”
What a fantastic place to walk, run, bicycle! It has been pretty warm lately, but the trail is very tree-lined which provides a fairly dense canopy overhead, yet still lets some breeze through. Since this is a "rails to trails" project, it is a very flat crushed limestone surface which is maintained by volunteers.
Flat, well maintained dirt road. There is shelter and a water fountain by Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Day Park. Couple of cute small towns down the road offer coffee and food. Once a few miles out of town there is barely anyone on the trail.
We've walked this trail several times and it's always a pleasure. The trail is nicely maintained and the walk is usually cool since the trees provide shade and block some of the wind too.
This has got to be one of the best path bike paths in the country. Certainly in the Greater Omaha metro. So peaceful, and just a great ride. It's had my heart for years now. I just wish it connected better to downtown/ or the MoPac. But with 63 miles of path, it isn't required.
Trail conditions & character
“Well maintained and shaded, making it great for those hot days with a stop about 5 miles down for resting and grills if you want to enjoy an afternoon or evening out.”
“This a very beautiful place to walk and the nature outside and take so beautiful pictures”
“The trail itself is top notch, but the council bluffs trailhead needs a real bathroom facility and a way to refill water jugs.”
“Since this is a "rails to trails" project, it is a very flat crushed limestone surface which is maintained by volunteers.”
“Since this is a "rails to trails" project, it is a very flat crushed limestone surface which is maintained by volunteers.”
“Just an awesome ride to venture away from the paved roads.”
“There is shelter and a water fountain by Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Day Park.”
Plan your run at Wabash Trace Nature Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitewabashtrace.org
- Phone+1 973-315-3112
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 am–10 pm |
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