Join the Army - Build Trails in Iowa

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visits Rathbun Lake, site of a proposed 30-mile trail.

Rasmussen Bike Shop, an IMBA-affiliated dealer, hosted an "Around the World with IMBA" slideshow.
In true Army style, the Corps supplied a big tent for the classroom session. The eager students included mountain bikers, equestrians, snowmobilers, hikers, Iowa Department of Natural Resources trail crews, and Army Corps staff.
Volunteers learn how to "zero out" with clinometers. Members of the Rathbun Lake Trails group will use these handy tools to design 30 miles of new multi-use trail.
Bill Felkner runs a proposed flag line to test its flow. Flow is the rhythm or "feel" of the trail.
Mark and Lora gained new perspective on trails thanks to a horseback ride at Wardco Ranch. A special thanks to Bill Ward who took them out on the trail, and to Curly and Gabe who put up with the extra weight.
A surprise visit by Woodsy the Owl made the visit to Rathbun Lake complete! Thanks to all who made this visit such a hoot!

Iowa sits in 47th place in the nation for the amount of public land per capita. With less than one percent of land available for recreation, the state offers few places to ride. The opportunity to build a 30-mile trail at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Rathbun Lake is a dream come true for cyclists, hikers, and equestrians alike. A visit by Mark Schmidt and Lora Woolner of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew in May helped locals take another step toward making the dream a reality.

Only about an hour's drive from Iowa's capitol city of Des Moines, Rathbun Lake hosts more than one million visitors each year. It has tremendous recreation potential, with more than 11,000 acres of water and 155 miles of shoreline.

Adding trails is an excellent start. With permission of the Army Corps of Engineers, members of the Rathbun Lake Trails group began the process last year by marking the lake's high-water line. The Army Corps is now pursuing environmental clearances. In anticipation of future construction, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew presented two IMBA Trailbuilding Schools during their visit, one to area land managers and one to trail volunteers. Classroom and trail instruction focused on sustainable trail design, drainage, assessing soil types, and practicing layout.

Marcia Thomas, Natural Resources Specialist for the Army Corps, is enthusiastic about the potential: "I received favorable comments on both sessions and the proposed trail development at Rathbun Lake. The Corps of Engineers will continue to work with the Rathbun Lake Trails group to provide a sustainable trail for a variety of users."

When the trail is complete, it will be cause for celebration. Thirty miles of multi-use trail in a state with very little public land is an achievement of epic proportions!

Lend a hand! This is a big project, and the Rathbun Lake Trails group can use your help. If you are interested in assisting with the design or construction of this trail, please contact Marcia Thomas at .