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Loop Trails (No Backtracking) in Iowa

Iowa has 17 trails with a loop route in this directory, across 14 cities and towns — Iowa City, Oskaloosa, West Des Moines, Burlington and 10 more. Start and finish at the same trailhead: a known distance, no backtracking and no car shuttle.

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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Fort Des Moines Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 582 reviews

Des Moines, IA

LoopScenic

Community recreation space with large picnic shelters, a playground & trails, plus a fishing lake.

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

4.7 ★★★★★ 552 reviews

Prairie City, IA

5 miLoopMixedScenic

Grassland preserve, with walking trails and an auto tour seeing bison, elk and butterflies.

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.

Lime Creek Nature Center

4.9 ★★★★★ 507 reviews

Mason City, IA

LoopMixedScenic

Conservation education facility with hands-on exhibits, live animals, a library & nature trails.

Woodpecker Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 237 reviews

Iowa City, IA

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Scenic hiking area featuring wooded trails along Coralville Lake and the Iowa River.

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.

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.

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

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.

North Gorge

4.4 ★★★★☆ 47 reviews

Burlington, IA

Loop

Trail system in a park and in the woods for casual and challenging hikes as well as mountain biking.

Smith Island Nature Trail

4.2 ★★★★☆ 48 reviews

Le Claire, IA

LoopMixedScenic

Ingawanis Woodlands Mountain Bike Trail head

4.7 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Janesville, IA

LoopNatural surface

Quercus Wilderness Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

Oskaloosa, IA

LoopPaved

Prairie Park Fishery Loop

4.7 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Cedar Rapids, IA

Loop

Babcock Woods

4.9 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Waverly, IA

Loop

Cedar Bluffs Natural Area Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

Oskaloosa, IA

2 miLoopScenic

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Every running trail in the town, not just the ones with a loop route.

See loop trails (no backtracking) across the whole country, or every running trail in Iowa. You can also browse the other features or start from surface.