2011 Updated RRVT Map
Raccoon River Valley Trail Video:
Broadband (WMV 17.5mb)
Dial-Up (WMV 2mb)
Fees
A user permit is required for all trail users 18 and over who are using the trail for walking, skiing, skateboarding, jogging, biking, snowmobiling, etc. Permit envelopes are available at the trailheads on the trail or you may purchase one through the mail by sending a check to:
Dallas County Conservation Board
14581 K Ave.
Perry, Iowa 50220
Annual permit: $10.00 per calendar year.
Daily permit: $2.00 per trail user.
Length 
The Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is a 56 miles long multi-use recreational trail. It extends from the Clive Greenbelt Trail to Jefferson, and passes through the communities of Clive, Urbandale, Waukee, Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Cooper and Jefferson. Another 33 miles of trail is being constructed from Herndon to Waukee.
Surface: Asphalt and Concrete
Grade: The Raccoon River Valley Trail is mostly flat, with only 1% to 2% grade.
Trailheads:
•Waukee: Jct. of Hwy.6 & Co. Rd. R22 -- Restrooms, trail passes, maps, information
•Ortonville: Jct. of Hwy.6 and Co. Rd. R16 -- trail passes, maps, information, camping
•Adel: 18th St. parking lot -- restrooms, trail passes
•Redfield: Redfield Depot parking lot, north of Hwy. 6 -- restrooms, water, picnic tables, trail passes, maps, information, concessions
•Linden: Jct. of Co. Rd. P30 & city park -- restrooms, water, trail passes, concessions
•Panora: SE 6th St. just off Hwy. 44 -- picnic tables, restrooms (at nearby restaurant), water, trail passes
•Yale: SE edge of town on Co. Rd. F25 -- restrooms, picnic tables, water, trail passes, maps, information
•Herndon: Center of town, park on street. No city facilities.
•Cooper: Center of town, in scalehouse of former elevator, just off Co. Rd. E57 -- water, restrooms.
•Jefferson: Restored railroad depot at Co. Rd. E53 (old Hwy. 30) -- restrooms, water, historic interpretive displays.
•Dawson Depot: Restored railroad depot at 307 Railroad Ave -- restrooms
•Perry Depot: Restored railroad depot at the corner of 1st St. (Hwy 144) and Willis Ave: electronic kiosk and messenger board, brochures, maps, info about the Perry community
•Forest Park Museum: south of Perry on K Avenue -- museum, restrooms, water, picnic tables, trail passes, maps, brochures, Dallas County information
History 
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is built on a former railroad right-of-way. A number of railroad companies owned the right-of-way over the years. The following is a condensed time line of rail and trail activity on this corridor of land:
•August 5, 1871: The Des Moines Western Railway Company was incorporated and site of right-of-way was located that year.
•1878: First trains began operating between Waukee and the east bank of the Raccoon River
in Adel.
•Late December 1879: Right-of-way extended from Adel to Panora. 
•September 27, 1880: The railroad company name was changed to Des Moines Northwestern Railway Company and the line was eventually extended to Spirit Lake.
•April 12, 1952: The last passenger train ran from Des Moines to Spirit Lake and back.
•December 28, 1987: Central Iowa Energy
Cooperative purchased the line from the Chicago
and Northwestern Transportation Company and
entered into a management agreement with
the Iowa Trails Council and the Dallas and
Guthrie County Conservation Boards to construc
and manage a multi-use recreational trail 
on the right-of-way.
•1989: The original 34 miles (Waukee to Yale)
of the Raccoon River Valley Trail were opened for use.
•1990-2000: The RRVT was extended from
Yale to Jefferson and from Waukee to Clive.
The Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene County
Conservation Boards purchased the right-of-way.
•Summer 2004: A surface overlay was done on
a section of the original trail in Dallas County from
County road P58 west to the county line.
•Summer 2005: A surface overlay was completed
east of P58 to Waukee.
•2008-09: Construction began on phases of the 
Herndon to Waukee addition. The bridge
west of Perry was completed.
•2009-10: Trail was completed from
Dawson to Forest Park Museum in Perry.
•2011: Trail from Dallas Center to Waukee
is completed.
•2012: Trail from Forest Park Museum to
Minburn is completed.
•2013: Trail from Minburn to Dallas Center
and Dawson to Herndon to be completed
by May, 2013.
Dallas County Conservation Board
14581 K Avenue
Perry, Iowa 50220
(515) 465-3577
conservation@co.dallas.ia.us
www.conservation.co.dallas.ia.us
Office hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.