Little-Known Trails for the Des Moines Area Nature Lover
It’s easy to spot city trails like those along the Des Moines River, but some of the finest hiking available to Des Moines residents is located just beyond city limits. Thanks to Iowa’s geography and Des Moines’ size, hikers have miles of forests and prairies at their disposal — yet many of these areas remains underutilized. Here are three underrated parks within a 30-minute drive of Des Moines proper that feature beautiful trails.
Underrated Hike #1: Jester Park Nature Center
Drive from Des Moines proper: 25-30 minutes
If you’re looking for winding trails around meandering creeks, Jester Park has plenty to offer. In fact, Jester Park offers almost anything an outdoor enthusiast can think of: miles upon miles of trails, indoor archery and rock climbing, a bird viewing blind, golf, horseback riding, and more. The hiking trails themselves traverse rolling hills through a forest, whose leaves nearly choke the creeks in the fall. When you’re done hiking, visit the park’s bison and elk herds, Nature Center, Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center, Equestrian Center, or golf course.
Notes: Familiarize yourself with the trails and buildings before you go, then park in the lot (sometimes paved, sometimes not) closest to the trailhead you’d like to start at. If you plan to visit the Nature Center or Recreation & Wellness Center after your hike, you’re probably better off driving. Certain activities (such as archery) require advance appointments, so make sure to check this webpage.
Underrated Hike #2: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Drive from Des Moines proper: 30-35 minutes
Chichaqua is well-known amongst researchers and bike enthusiasts, but its unpaved trails don’t see the foot traffic they deserve. The Greenbelt is, predictably, a prairie-lover’s dream, featuring miles of remnant and restored prairie. Thanks to sparse trees, visitors don’t need to perform evasive maneuvers to enjoy views of Iowa’s natural landscape — in some cases, a landscape that hasn’t changed much in hundreds of years.
Notes: Make sure to check trail maps before beginning your journey. Navigation signs are sparse along the trail, and some side paths add up to three miles.
Underrated Hike #3: Mally’s Weh-Weh Neh-Kee Park
Drive from Des Moines proper: 15-20 minutes
“Weh-weh-neh-kee” is the Mesquaki name for “a good place,” — a title certainly fitting for this quaint park. Mally’s Park is known for its picnic shelter and playground, making it a family favorite in the Des Moines ‘suburb’ of Berwick, IA. However, few know that this park features a short, underrated hiking trail through a diverse old-growth forest. In the fall, elm, ash, and maple cultivars seem to change one by one, painting an evolving kaleidoscope with the forest’s canopy. At the right angle, this kaleidoscope is reflected in Four Mile Creek, which runs adjacent to the trail.
Notes: The dirt trail through this forest is somewhat hidden. After parking, follow the paved path until the creek appears to the left, then take a hard left. The main trail is about 0.5 miles, but foot-worn trails and the banks of the creek add at least another half mile.
