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Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Valley Junction Park

Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Valley Junction Park

Moderate

4.7

(4710)

6,739

riders

Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Valley Junction Park

02:45

21.4km

50m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 10.5 km for 211 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.41 km

Water Works Park

Highlight • Natural

Water Works Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and spans 1,500 acres. It is managed by Water Works, a publicly owned municipal water utility serving the greater Des Moines metropolitan area. It ranks among the largest urban parks in the United States, features a beer garden, and is dog-friendly.

Tip by

4.93 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

6.30 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

8.75 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

14.8 km

Gray's Lake beach

Highlight • Beach

This sandy beach at Gray’s Lake is a great spot to pause during or after your hike. Dip your feet in the water, relax on the sand, or even have a quick picnic before finishing the loop around the lake.

Tip by

21.4 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

11.1 km

7.44 km

2.37 km

281 m

103 m

102 m

Surfaces

7.54 km

7.00 km

6.73 km

< 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

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Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Valley Junction Park

Water Works Park

Bill Riley Trail

Gray's Lake Park

Raccoon River

Gray's Lake beach

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