Levee Trail may not be super long, but it’s one of the most used trails in the Des Moines area. The trail serves as an important connector to get from West Des Moines to downtown Des Moines and beyond!
The Levee Trail
Levee Trail extends northeast for about 3 miles, from Raccoon River Park to Walnut Creek Trail in Des Moines. From its intersection at Walnut Creek Trail, head east or west on miles of paved trails in the Central Iowa Trail network!
From Walnut Creek Trail, connect to Clive Greenbelt Trail on the west. You can use it to get to the 89-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail in Clive!
To the east, explore downtown Des Moines, Gray’s Lake, and Easter Lake. Or head north from downtown to Saylorville Lake via the 25-mile Neal Smith Trail.
Know Before You Go!
- The trail crosses a busy intersection at S. 1st St./SW 63rd St, but there is a crosswalk with lights.
- Denman’s Woods is off the trail. It’s a singletrack mountain bike/hiking trail near the connection to Walnut Creek Trail (off of North Valley Drive bridge).
- Raccoon River Park is a large outdoor recreation area with a ton to do! Rent kayaks or bikes, swim at the beach, hike the trail, and much more!
Trail Map
We also recommend the Central Iowa Trails Interactive Map and Street Collective’s Regional Trail Map to help plan your route.
Trailheads
Raccoon River Park. Access the trail on the northeast side of the park, near the softball complex. There is plenty of parking at the softball fields.
Aliber Soccer Complex. Near Grand and 63rd Street, get on the Walnut Creek Trail and head south a (very) short distance to access the trail (on the right, at N. Valley Dr).
Ashworth Park. Levee trail is almost a mile from here, but it’s one way to access it from Des Moines. From the parking lot at the end of 45th Street in Ashworth Park, get on the Bill Riley Trail. Turn right (west) at Walnut Creek Trail for about .8 miles to connect to the Levee Trail at North Valley Drive.
Connecting Trails
Jordan Creek Trail meets up with Levee Trail at Raccoon River Park.* It extends north and west through West Des Moines along Jordan Creek. From the trail, access several restaurants and businesses throughout West Des Moines.
*There is some discrepancy over where Jordan Creek Trail ends, and Levee Trail begins. For our purposes, Levee Trail starts at Raccoon River Park.
The trail links to Walnut Creek Trail at the North Valley Drive bridge in Des Moines. It’s is a beautiful creekside trail extending 3.2 miles from Des Moines to Windsor Heights. From Walnut Creek, access the Clive Greenbelt Trail to the northwest and the Bill Riley Trail to the east (to get to downtown).
Levee Trail Facts
- Location: West Des Moines to Des Moines
- Distance: ~3 miles
- Surface: Asphalt
- Difficulty: Easy
- Description: The trail extends from Raccoon River Park northeast to Walnut Creek Trail in Des Moines.
- Trailheads: Raccoon River Park, Ashworth Park
- Connectors: Jordan Creek Trail, Walnut Creek Trail
