Dallas County

Biking at Raccoon River Valley Trail
The Raccoon River Valley Trail uses the former right‐of‐way of a railroad built in the 1870s and early ’80s to connect the city of Des Moines with the Iowa Great Lakes region in the northwest part of the state. For more than 50 years, it was a popular rail line, taking many vacationers from central Iowa right to the shores of Storm Lake, the Okobojis and Big Spirit Lake.

In late 1987, the Central Iowa Energy Cooperative (CIECO), an affiliate of the Central Iowa Power Cooperative, purchased the right‐of‐way. Its new life as a recreational trail was about to begin. CIECO, the Iowa Trails Council, and the Conservation Boards from Dallas and Guthrie Counties came to an agreement in late ’87 to allow the development of a multi‐use trail on the right‐of‐way. In 1997 Greene County Conservation became a part of the consortium owning and operating the RRVT. At this time there are approximately 66 miles of hard surface trail completed and about 20 additional miles to be completed in 2012. This will complete the 86 mile loop.

Cabins at Glissman Conservation Area
 The Glissman All Season Lodge will sleep up to 8 people when using the futon and features a fully equipped kitchen, 2 bathrooms (one with an ADA shower and one with a bathtub), and a deck with a beautiful panoramic view. Pillows, towels and linens are not furnished. The Glissman Conservation Area boasts a 7.5 acre pond on 60 acres to hike, fish, bird watch, picnic or mushroom hunt.

Trails & Hiking at Raccoon River Valley Trail
The Raccoon River Valley Trail uses the former right‐of‐way of a railroad built in the 1870s and early ’80s to connect the city of Des Moines with the Iowa Great Lakes region in the northwest part of the state. For more than 50 years, it was a popular rail line, taking many vacationers from central Iowa right to the shores of Storm Lake, the Okobojis and Big Spirit Lake.

In late 1987, the Central Iowa Energy Cooperative (CIECO), an affiliate of the Central Iowa Power Cooperative, purchased the right‐of‐way. Its new life as a recreational trail was about to begin. CIECO, the Iowa Trails Council, and the Conservation Boards from Dallas and Guthrie Counties came to an agreement in late ’87 to allow the development of a multi‐use trail on the right‐of‐way. In 1997 Greene County Conservation became a part of the consortium owning and operating the RRVT. At this time there are approximately 66 miles of hard surface trail completed and about 20 additional miles to be completed in 2012. This will complete the 86 mile loop.