wellness
Des Moines Locals Reveal Hidden Nature Walks Tourists Miss
Des Moines residents keep returning to lesser-known riverbank loops and neighborhood paths that stay off most visitor maps.
How we reported this
Des Moines trail users logged 312,000 visits on lesser-marked river segments in the first half of 2026, according to city Parks and Recreation counts released last month.
Summer heat and rising interest in low-cost outdoor fitness have pushed more residents toward shaded, low-traffic routes that avoid the crowded Principal Riverwalk and Gray's Lake boardwalk. The city added 1.8 miles of new crushed-limestone surface along the Raccoon River in 2024, yet signage remains minimal and parking stays limited to neighborhood side streets.
Two routes residents use most
One stretch begins at the south end of SE 14th Street near the old Fort Des Moines site and follows the Raccoon River west for nearly three miles before looping back through cottonwood stands. Another set of paths starts behind the Beaverdale commercial strip on Urbandale Avenue and winds through a 40-acre wooded parcel maintained by the Des Moines Parks Department. Both routes connect to the larger Bill Riley Trail but stay separate for long stretches.
Local running groups such as the Des Moines Track Club hold Tuesday evening sessions on the SE 14th access point because the tree cover keeps temperatures five to seven degrees cooler than open parkland. The Beaverdale section draws cyclists from the nearby Drake neighborhood who park free on 30th Street and avoid the paid lots at Water Works Park.
City data shows average daily use on these two segments rose 28 percent between May 2025 and May 2026. A single parking meter on nearby streets costs $1.50 per hour, while the main tourist trailheads charge $5 for all-day access. Maintenance crews report fewer than 12 complaints per month on the hidden sections compared with 45 at Gray's Lake.
Walkers who want to try either route should start before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to avoid midday heat and bring water, since no fountains sit along the unmarked stretches. The Des Moines Parks and Recreation website lists updated surface conditions each Monday.