Gray's Lake is one of the top-rated hiking trails in Des Moines, IA. The 167-acre park features a 1.9-mile lighted trail that surrounds the Lake. This Lake is a dog-friendly place where you can walk around. This trail has a two-mile walking trail, where you can rent the boats. The neighboring Raccoon River backup waters and stormwater supply water to the park's 100-acre iconic Lake. Gray's Lake has a circular jogging trail with rainbow lights that make it sparkle during the evening. The hours of Gray's Lake Park vary seasonally, so visitors can call upfront or review their website before planning their trip. There are plenty of grassy areas to lay out blankets and enjoy a nice day. Guests can also rent paddleboats, sailboats, or kayaks to enjoy the Lake. Gray's Lake Park is a place to get out and enjoy the town.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Picnic Tables Available
• Playground Swings Available
• Has Barbecue Grill.
3 Best Hiking Trails in Des Moines, IA
Expert recommended Top 3 Hiking Trails in Des Moines, Iowa. All of our hiking trails actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence.
GRAY'S LAKE PARK REVIEWS
This park is just a bit outside of downtown Des Moines & is a great place to visit if you're in the area. They have a nice paved trail system that goes all the way around the lake, a couple beautiful bridges that light up at night, & an area to get concessions along with the ability to rent out small boats & canoes so you can spend a bit of time on the water.
Very nice place to visit all the seasons! It has a long walking trail and a very nice bridge. The color is very warm during fall season!
Beautiful trail encircling a serene lake with a breathtaking bridge. Perfect for dog lovers; it's incredibly dog-friendly.
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Fort Des Moines Park is a popular hiking trail in Des Moines, IA. This park was founded in 1903 on the Army Post Road. The park encompasses a 135-acre area, once part of the former cavalry post. At the heart of the park lies a deep 14-acre lake. The park offers three easy trails: the Lakeside Trail (1.1 miles), the Savanna Loop Trail (0.7 miles), and the Prairie Trail (0.5 miles). The 14-acre pond at Fort Des Moines Park is excellent for canoeing and kayaking. A boat ramp is available for electric motor boats, rental facilities, and history activities. They offer Canoeing & Kayaking, Education at Fort Des Moines Park, a ramp for electric motor boats, Rental facilities, and History Activities.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Picnic Shelters
• Parking Available
• Barbecue Grill Pits.
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FORT DES MOINES PARK REVIEWS
We love this park! The walking trail around the park is the perfect distance for walking our aging pup, and there are plenty of smells for him to discover. The park is well kept and has a variety of native plants, as well as signs that provide information about the wildlife. We always see people fishing there. The shelters are often being utilized for functions like birthday parties or cookouts. It's a great community space that we absolutely love.
This is a beautiful little park on the south side of Des Moines. There's some good fishing locations here as well as a nice kayaking area if you're looking for a nice small place to take your friend's family or even kids. I enjoy fishing out there and taking my dogs for walks through the park. There's also a playground on the premises and a decent trail.
Nice in town park. Well-groomed trails. The one around the lake is maybe a mile and all the trails combined is probably only a couple miles. They have good trail signs and educational signs talking about the different ecosystems in the park.
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Brown's Woods is the main city forest protection area in Iowa, providing more than four miles of trails to visit. The 486-acre woodland of West Des Moines comprises a canopy of oak and hickory trees extending from Brown's Woods Drive to Raccoon Creek. Brown's Woods is enjoyable to visit at any time of year and can be accessed by cross-country skis or on foot. The park offers quality outdoor entertainment and promotes environmental awareness among Polk County residents and tourists. There are two amphitheaters with wooden benches, numerous geocaches, picnic tables, and clean restrooms. The wildlife preserve within the park is also populated with oak and hickory trees and offers additional trails for hiking and geocaching. Brown's Woods is an excellent destination for those seeking to stay active and connect with nature.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Offers Parking
• Dog Friendly
• Well-maintained Trails.
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BROWN'S WOODS REVIEWS
Enjoyed a 3mile hike here. It’s the end of January and the temps were in the 20s. The trails were snow and ice packed, which made having some extra traction devices handy. The hike down to the river bottom (and back up) wasn’t very difficult. As mentioned, trail was icy in spots so something like yaktrax or trekking poles could be beneficial. The restrooms are closed for the season, but the portable toilet was clean and had supplies. There were several cars in the parking lot but I didn’t see anyone else out on the trail. The wild turkeys I encountered were not spooked by my presence and it was neat to observe them for a short bit.
Excellent trail! Well maintained and very good beginner level trail with slight elevation changes. The trail is nearly marked at every point along the trail to help you find your way back and has options to choose your hike length. The whole trail is about 2.5 miles, with options for shorter distances. Gorgeous in the fall.
Great little hike!!! So peaceful and pretty. BRING bug spray! My 7 year old son loved it! The trail signs also give u the option of a guided audio tour at each point by dialing a number on your phone! VERY COOL!!!! Forage black berries when they are ready!
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