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Flat & Fast Running Trails in Iowa

Iowa has 21 trails with flat, fast terrain in this directory, across 17 cities and towns — West Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Burlington and 13 more. Gentle grades for tempo efforts, goal-pace long runs and steady miles.

Labels come from each trail's own listing, its website and runners' reviews. Conditions change with the weather and the season, and gates and lights follow the park's own hours, so check a recent review before you drive out.

Every one in Iowa

Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.

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George Wyth State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,043 reviews

Waterloo, IA

PavedScenic

Multiple lakes for boating, fishing & windsurfing plus multi-use woodland trails, campsites & more.

Yellow Banks Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 827 reviews

Pleasant Hill, IA

ScenicDog-friendly

Large park providing scenic bluff views, camping, hiking, fishing & a Native American burial mound.

Walnut Woods State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 804 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

16.5 miPavedShadedScenic

260-acre nature reserve with trails, camping, river boating & fishing & a 1930s lodge for rentals.

Brown's Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 551 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

3 miLoopShadedScenic

Wildlife preserve filled with oak & hickory trees as well as trails for hiking & geocaching.

Starr's Cave Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 404 reviews

Burlington, IA

Scenic

Park, featuring a cave and trails, along with creek access for wading.

Snell-Crawford Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 336 reviews

Fort Dodge, IA

Picnic site with grills, sand volleyball, disc golf, walking trails & a playground.

Lake Keomah State Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 337 reviews

Keomah Village, IA

Scenic

Relaxed, kid-friendly spot with camping, hiking trails and lake fishing, plus beaches.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 235 reviews

Hiawatha, IA

MixedShaded

Flat trail on a former railroad bed for biking, walking and jogging.

Eastern Avenue Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 238 reviews

Davenport, IA

Lit

Neighborhood park featuring disc golf and a bike path, plus a public restroom.

Horseshoe Bluff Hiking Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 217 reviews

Dubuque, IA

1 miLoopScenicDog-friendly

Hiking area at the base of steep bluffs offering views of the Mississippi River.

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 206 reviews

Council Bluffs, IA

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Route for walking, biking and running with a crushed-limestone surface and several bridges.

Pearson Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 194 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

Loop

Family-friendly park with a walking loop, plus playground equipment and a basketball court.

Waterworks Prairie Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 172 reviews

Iowa City, IA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

200-acre park with 3 mi. of paved paths around ponds & prairies, plus trailhead parking & benches.

Sycamore Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Johnston, IA

6.5 miLoopMixedScenic

Forested place with dirt trails for cycling and a paved path, as well as scenic spots.

Ryerson's Woods State Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 115 reviews

Iowa City, IA

LoopShaded

Tom Harkin Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 103 reviews

Coralville, IA

2.8 miMixedScenic

Hiking and biking trails, both paved and unpaved, are offered at this trailhead.

Raccoon River Valley Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 94 reviews

Waukee, IA

89 miLoopPavedLit

Park with trails that's popular for cycling, featuring picnic tables and a restroom.

Eagle Point Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

Clinton, IA

3 miScenicDog-friendly

Scenic park with picnic areas and playgrounds, plus scenic Mississippi views.

Roosevelt Hiking & Mtb Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

Dubuque, IA

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Marion, IA

Paved

Floyd River Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Sioux City, IA

Scenic

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Every running trail in the town, not just the ones with flat, fast terrain.

See flat & fast running trails across the whole country, or every running trail in Iowa. You can also browse the other features or start from surface.