day bike!
🌉 high trestle trail!
iowa knows a thing or two about bicycling (check out RAGBRAI if you’re not familiar) so it’s no surprise that’s where you’ll find one of the coolest bike routes — the high trestle trail — and specifically its beautiful bridge over the des moines river valley!
the bridge is just a bit west of the town of madrid in boone county, iowa — home to indigenous speakers of the Dakȟóta (Western Dakota), Dakhóta (Eastern Dakota), and Báxoje ich’é (Iowa) languages — and features an incredible span-spanning metal sculpture that you really need to experience first-hand to appreciate.
on june 6 southern minnesota guy & i hopped on our bikes to enjoy the trail, the bridge, the views, the history, and the root beer floats of the area. two mugs up for the folks at the filling station in madrid!
my trail name’s mythic and in 2026 i’m continuing my multi-year thru-hike (m.y.t.h.) of the pacific crest trail. as i prepare to return to the pct (and hopefully tackle other section- and thru-hikes in the future), i'm going on day hikes to help keep in trail shape!
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references:
Seek app (plant identification)
