Gushing Over the High Trestle Trail
The High Trestle Trail in Iowa is one of my favorite trails to talk about. I visited in 2015 and was completely enamored with the High Trestle Trail Bridge. I’ve been sharing the story of the bridge ever since. In fact, when I issued the first “Trail Townz” Zine last year, I put it on the cover and included a story. I’ve pasted the story below.
Luckily for me, I was invited to speak at the Iowa Trails Summit this fall and had a chance to revisit the trail while in the area. Even better, I was hosted by Lisa Hein of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). Lisa is the Senior Director for Conservation Programs and was the project manager for IHNF who oversaw trail development. I was honored to have the chance to walk the trail with her. She took me out to see the bridge lit by night (a bucket list item for me!).
It was chilly for early October, about 45 degrees and windy. We bundled up and walked a half mile to the bridge. Before we ever saw the iconic blue glow of the bridge, we saw some other sources of light: first, a Starlink satellite “train,” and then a train of another sorts. A group of 10+ cyclists rolled by, every last one of them offering a cheerful hello. Later, when we drove over to nearby Woodward, we saw their bikes parked outside of the Whistlin’ Donkey. No doubt, it was a fun ride. The bridge was everything I’d imagined it might be. The lighting is mesmerizing, and it was just fun to be out there at night. Thank you, Lisa, for making it happen (both my visit and the bridge itself).
We went back to the trail the next morning for the High Trestle Hawk Watch. It was so much fun to share time with a group of enthusiastic birders shouting, “Raptor up!” every few minutes, everyone’s binoculars suddenly aimed at the sky. One of the organizers, Marlene, told me, “It’s a small community, but it’s a glorious one.” It is indeed.
Besides getting to marvel at the bridge (I know, I’m gushing), Lisa took me on a tour of the towns. We spent time with community members in Madrid and Perry and also stopped through Woodward and Ankeny, the trail’s endpoints.
What I learned was that communities across the entire 25 miles take pride in the High Trestle Bridge. I was previously aware of the bridge being a point of pride for Madrid and their impressive ways of connecting to it. But the bridge is highlighted in some way in just about every community.
Woodward repainted its water tower to include the bridge imagery. Madrid’s chamber of commerce changed its logo to feature the bridge (not to mention all the other ways Madrid incorporates the look). And in Ankeny – roughly TWENTY miles away on the trail, a public plaza uses the cribs in its signs. I’m trying to think of other trails in which communities honor a point of interest that’s 20 miles away, and I’m coming up short.
This is all to say, the High Trestle Trail continues to be awe-inspiring, and communities are doing a great job of connecting to it. This isn’t just about the image showing up on signs and t-shirts. The towns have truly embraced the trail. Both the Madrid and Woodward high school cross country teams run on the trail (I try to imagine two rival teams crossing paths on the bridge). Local residents are out there monitoring wildlife and walking and biking the trail. And elected officials understand the trail’s impact on the regional economy.
Finally, while the High Trestle Trail has built destination appeal, it’s part of a larger network of trails. If you’re planning a trip, know that there are a number of trails all throughout Iowa (and others in development) that you’ll be able to visit.
Trail Townz Zine Article, Fall 2022:
“Pictured on the cover, the High Trestle Trail Bridge spans the Des Moines River Valley in spectacular fashion. Put simply, it is a work of art. In addition to the views it affords, the bridge pays homage to the region’s industrial past with 41 overhead steel “frames” that represent the support cribs of a historic coal mine. The bridge is further activated by the decision to light some of those frames by night. Residents and visitors can visit the bridge year-round to see a section of the steel cribbings lighted after dark. This section, lit in blue, marks the location of the main river channel, further reinforcing the connection between the artsy bridge and the river valley it spans.
Without the bridge, the High Trestle Trail might be like any other 25-mile rail-trail. But the bridge adds destination appeal and the nearest community, Madrid (population 2,800), benefits as a result. Do a Google image search for Madrid and you will see image after image of the bridge pop up.
Both the community’s sense of place and its local economy are interwoven with the High Trestle Trail. Madrid’s wayfinding system incorporates the shape of the bridge’s steel frames, a telling sign that the community celebrates the bridge as a point of pride and local landmark.
When I visited the trail in 2015, the tour group I was with stopped by a local winery, Snus Hill Winery. The owner told me that day that the trail is so important to their business that they consider the winery to be a secondary attraction to the High Trestle Trail. He drove home his point by telling me that his first six customers that day were cyclists. Not to mention they have a wine that’s playfully named after the bridge – the High Trestle Taille – with the label featuring a cat riding a bike. Kudos to Madrid and the builders of the High Trestle Trail. You have a good thing going!”
Gratitude Notes
I’m grateful to my Iowa hosts, of course – Lisa, Andrea, and everyone who came out to meet with us. I also want to express my gratitude for those who joined me earlier this month to celebrate 10 years in business. I’m still relishing in the memory of a few dozen friends and family members and clients and colleagues who gathered in support of me and this work. Your support both in that moment and over the years is deeply appreciated!