Kayaking/hike-n-bike in Des Moines (West Des Moines, Urbandale: to rent, home, scorpions)

[wineflight]

I moved here Feb. 1 and am really enjoying spring...it's so beautiful here. I'm having fun exploring this city...my first Farmer's Mkt. yesterday was great fun!!

Is there a place to go kayaking in DM and to rent them? Is Gray's Lake the only water area with a hike/bike trail or are there more around town. I live in Urbandale.

Thanks for any information.

[Luke9686]

There's a network of bike trails around here. Not sure where you can find maps, but it goes all the way out to Saylorville and beyond. My father in law canoes on the Des Moines river. There's a river trail with several access points.

[swlmc2]

I don't know anything about kayaking, but we go hiking regularly. There is a great system of bike trails in the area. Try these links for more info:

Trails - Maps

Iowa DNR: Iowa's State Parks

Hope these help! Have fun!

[Luke9686]

While you're out hiking, be sure to look for morel mushrooms. This is the season for them and they're delicious. I found 7 last weekend.

[iowegian]

I Googled it and found this for kayaking: Home

It certainly wouldn't be a difficult course for someone with kayaking experience, but they do rent kayaks, and it's only about 30-40 minutes from Des Moines.

[wineflight]

Great! Thanks everyone for the information. I'm looking forward to a fun summer here with all these activities....and best of all no fire ants or scorpions to ruin it. ;-)

[El Rhino]

Glad you enjoyed the Farmer's Market, I love it when I get a chance to get to it.


Bike trails - From Gray's Lake you can head west through Waterworks and Greenwood Park and it connects with a West Des Moines trail. There's also parking lots in Waterworks, Greenwood Park and 63rd & Grand to catch the trail. Highly recommended. There's also a good trail that basically starts across from the MLK Hy-Vee's parking lot (it's ok to park there) and goes north to and around Saylorville. That's another good ride. You can also catch that trail around the Botanical Center downtown which is kind of cool too.

Hiking. Ledges State Park in Boone (it's about a 45 minute drive from Des Moines) is probably the best in Central Iowa. Other than that, there's some good trails at Saylorville and Yellow Banks is ok too. Easter Lake is good if you want to get out for an hour or two, I like to walk my dogs here.

[wineflight]

Good information...thanks!
I could be a walking commercial for the Farmer's Mkt...I can't say enough wonderful things about it. Best Mkt. I've been to ever, hands down. Great food, produce is a dream, live music and fun jewelry. Margs at Dos Rios at 11 and home by noon. The only con is after 9am you can hardly walk around. Took my dog to Raccoon River Park after that...it was okay...she loved it. =)

[capitalcityguy]

I have never seen the market that crowded by 9:00. Usually it is 10 or 10:30 before it gets that crazy.

I think the weather along with the general excitement over opening day really brought out the crowds.