Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Gray's Lake Park – Neal Smith Trail loop from Park Avenue Apartments

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Gray's Lake Park – Neal Smith Trail loop from Park Avenue Apartments

Easy

4.9

(9166)

9,229

riders

Gray's Lake Park – Neal Smith Trail loop from Park Avenue Apartments

01:11

19.7km

60m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 3, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 8.44 km for 154 m

After 9.12 km for 70 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

3.87 km

Gray's Lake Park

Highlight • Lake

Gray's Lake Park has a total size of 166-acres and is located in the heart of Des Moines. The lake of the same name is the park's main feature and is surrounded by a path for cycling and hiking. One of the highlights is the bridge that crosses the lake, as it can be illuminated in the evening and nighttime.

Tip by

7.50 km

Principal Riverwalk

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Principal Riverwalk is a smooth, scenic pathway along the Des Moines River, perfect if you're looking to explore downtown. Its well-paved paths and pedestrian bridges connect key districts, making it an excellent route for both casual spins and fast-paced rides. The city views and riverside breeze make it a great place to stretch your legs on two wheels.

Tip by

8.28 km

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge is a car-free bridge that gives you the chance to enjoy a pleasant ride or walk across the Des Moines River—even at night, thanks to its good lighting.

Tip by

8.51 km

Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens

Highlight • Monument

Nice change in the otherwise typical MidWest

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9.15 km

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Highlight • Structure

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is located in the center of Des Moines and has a size of about 17 acres. It includes a Café and multiple gardens where young and old can learn about endemic plants and flowers.

Tip by

9.95 km

Neal Smith Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Neal Smith Trail is a 26-mile trail through Des Moines along the Des Moines River. It is fully paved and traffic free, so it is a great way to move through the heavily populated city.

Tip by

13.5 km

Raccoon River

Highlight • River

As you make your way over the bridge you will catch views of the Raccoon River, a tributary of the Des Moines River. Stretching over 30.8 miles, this river winds through an area of intense cultivation, including croplands and livestock farming.

Since the 19th century, the Des Moines metropolitan area has relied on this river for drinking water, although it faced challenges during the Great Flood of 1993.

Tip by

16.8 km

Bill Riley Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Bill Riley Trail is a 2.7-mile paved pathway that winds through wooded areas, including Ashworth Park, and crosses the Raccoon River via a rustic trestle bridge. The trail is named after Bill Riley, a member of the Des Moines Park Board who played a significant role in raising funds for the city's trail system. It is popular among cyclists, walkers, and runners, and although dogs are welcome, they must be kept on a leash. Parking is available near the Ashworth Memorial Pool in Ashworth Park, and in Gray's Lake Park.

Tip by

19.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

16.1 km

3.29 km

161 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.34 km

7.92 km

3.04 km

205 m

101 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Sunday 23 August

27°C

16°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Easy

Raccoon River Valley Trail: Waukee to Minburn

01:08h

20.3km

30m

Hard

3.0

Raccoon River Valley Trail Loop

06:22h

113km

250m

Hard

4.7

Chichaqua Valley Trail

05:24h

94.9km

340m

Easy

5.0

Mark C. Ackelson Trail

00:31h

8.65km

20m

Easy

4.8

Summerset Trail

01:53h

33.2km

90m

Moderate

5.0

Great Western Trail

03:48h

66.3km

250m

Moderate

Neal Smith Trail

03:30h

57.4km

280m

Moderate

Neal Smith Trail

04:56h

78.5km

350m

Hard

High Trestle Trail and Neal Smith Trail Loop

06:52h

116km

460m

Easy

Raccoon River Park Trail

00:19h

5.21km

10m

Easy

Meredith and Martin Luther King Trails

00:26h

7.49km

20m

Easy

Meredith Trail

00:44h

12.4km

40m

Gray's Lake Park – Neal Smith Trail loop from Park Avenue Apartments

Gray's Lake Park

Principal Riverwalk

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Neal Smith Trail

Raccoon River

Bill Riley Trail

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️