Raccoon River Valley: short westward return from Adel
Iowa · Rail-trail
Follow the main RRVT west toward Redfield. Turn at two outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable tread; retrace. Omit the distant full loop and Perry–Woodward connector. The repaired Adel lighted bridge lies on the other, eastern approach and is not needed for this ride.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Adel · Iowa
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out-and-back
- Surface
- Asphalt / concrete main rail-trail
- Road crossings
- Follow the main RRVT west toward Redfield. Turn at two outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable tread; retrace. Omit the distant full loop and Perry–Woodward connector. The repaired Adel lighted bridge lies on the other, eastern approach and is not needed for this ride.
- Elevation
- County describes mostly flat railway grades, generally one to two percent. That published description is not a surveyed maximum for every current approach.
- Starting location
- 18th Street just north of Old Highway 6, Adel, IA
Chosen four-mile maximum return. The 72-mile loop and 89-mile network are separate broader scopes.
NRT record location; not a verified public trailhead
Raccoon River Valley: short westward return from Adel — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-21. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
Adel, Iowa · Up to 4 miles return · Asphalt / concrete main rail-trail
Start: Adel public 18th Street trailhead, 18th Street just north of Old Highway 6, Adel, IA. Dallas County identifies the public trail parking lot here. Walk from designated lot spaces to the main RRVT; do not use Old Highway 6 as a cycling link or assume neighboring business parking is public.
Ride: Follow the main RRVT west toward Redfield. Turn at two outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable tread; retrace. Omit the distant full loop and Perry–Woodward connector. The repaired Adel lighted bridge lies on the other, eastern approach and is not needed for this ride.
Distance: Chosen four-mile maximum return. The 72-mile loop and 89-mile network are separate broader scopes.
Permission and effort: County and trail association identify ordinary bicycle use on the main paved route. County describes mostly flat railway grades, generally one to two percent. That published description is not a surveyed maximum for every current approach.
Planning: Choose daylight within posted trail and parking access. County and current association say a trail permit is no longer required. Parking, rental and event terms remain separate. Yield to walkers, announce passing and stop for traffic at every crossing.
Access reviewed October 20, 2026 Central (October 21 UTC): Current association homepage expressly states Ortonville–Adel construction and the lighted bridge are complete and open; access from Redfield remains open. An older 2025 page still carries the superseded closure. The current statement does not inspect every slab or certify the entire loop.
Bring water and choose suitable weather. Parking walking is extra. No surveyed parking-space pin or navigable GPX is supplied.
Sources: County public start, paved surface, effort and permit removal · Current explicit reopening · Dated reopening celebration context