Veterans Memorial Trail (IA)

Council Bluffs' Veterans Memorial Trail runs adjacent to US 275—also known as Veterans Memorial Highway—for its 5 mile route. On the non-highway side of the trail, runners, walkers, bikers and skaters are treated to a diverse landscape of industrial properties, residences, farmland and groves of trees.

Although the scenery on the Veterans Memorial Trail may not be as robust as that found along other trails in Council Bluffs and Omaha, the trail provides a crucial link in the two cities' recreational trails network. At the eastern end of the trail at E. Manawa Drive in Council Bluffs, the Lake Manawa Trail begins. A short ride or run along that trail provides access to beautiful Lake Manawa State Park and the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

Trail users can also connect to the Indian Creek Trail (as well as another portion of the Lake Manawa Trail) where US 275 crosses Indian Creek. Taking the Indian Creek Trail north provides direct off-road access to a residential section of Council Bluffs. Less than 0.5 mile west of that trail is the southern endpoint for the Western Historic Trails Center Link, which fittingly runs to the Western Historic Trails Center—featuring exhibits on early American pioneers in Iowa—and the Iowa Riverfront Trail.

The Veterans Memorial Trail ends in the west in Omaha after crossing the South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Missouri River. The trail shares the bridge, which was built in 2010, with automobile traffic, but it maintains its own separated path. In Nebraska, the trail connects to the southern portion of the impressive Omaha Riverfront Trail.

Trail users should be warned that a temporary gap exists between S. 11th Street and Pine Street in Council Bluffs. This break in the trail should be eliminated in 2013, but trail users should exercise caution until then.

Parking and Trail Access

There are no dedicated parking lots for the Veterans Memorial Trail, so consider parking at the Western Historic Trails Center or the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex on Richard Downing Avenue. From there, take the Western Historic Trails Center Link south until you reach the trail. Alternatively, park at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park or Lake Manawa State Park; take the Lake Manawa Trail north until you reach the Veterans Memorial Trail.

Veterans Memorial Trail (IA) Reviews

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Get tired legs rideing all the trails that comes off the vererans memorial trail and the numberass of veiws from 17 miles north of Omaha Neb. to the Iowa and Mo. state line south you won't forget these trails from one to the other

June 2013 shirart

I say this becaus i have made all of these trails one at time sometimes two or three and there is water as you go Have nice trip there is some grades but not bad ones as im 76 235lb so if i can make it you can also

Accordion

Iowa, Nebraska

1 Reviews

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Parking and Trail Access

Get tired legs rideing all the trails that comes off the vererans memorial trail and the numberass of veiws from 17 miles north of Omaha Neb. to the Iowa and Mo. state line south you won't forget these trails from one to the other

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