Recreation Trails

Council Bluffs is home to a 30-mile continuous system of trails! The paved system is largely poured concrete and asphalt, with some bike lanes used to link certain points of the trail together.



2009 Council Bluffs Trail Map
Includes current and proposed Council Bluffs Trails.


Look Here!"Extreme" Carb Night at the Riverside Grille!

Join us at the Riverside Grille (2 Harrahs Blvd) every Tuesday, starting September 16!

All you can eat pasta for just $7, plus drink specials!

Each Tuesday, you can enter your name for a chance to win a $300 gift certificate from Xtreme Wheels Bike and Sports! The more you come, the better your chances--the drawing will be October 28!

Click here for more information on the Tuesday Night Riverside Ride!


Trails lead throughout the city, and includes the New Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge that was opened September 28, 2008.

Click here to download the Metro Trails Map.
Includes trails in Omaha, NE.


Recreation Trails and the Parks

There are many entrances to the trails through our city parks system. Look for our new segment of trail opened in 2008 between the South Expressway on the old Wabash Railroad Right-Of-Way, running through the south end, connecting to the Indian Creek Trail near Katelman Water Park. This trail was named the Emil Pavich Trail.


From the north, the trail flows from Big Lake Park to N. 25th Street, then follows the Missouri River levy on to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, past the Dodge Riverside Golf Course to the Western Historic Trails Center. A tour of this section offers stunning views of the river and Omaha's riverfront development, along with a ride over the Missouri River into downtown Omaha.

Big Lake Trail is the northern starting point for Council Bluffs' recreation trails.
The Riverfront section follows the Missouri River levy system from N. 25th Street to the Western Historic Trails Center.

The trail continues east and south through the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex and through Lake Manawa State Park. Paralleling Mosquito Creek, the trail heads east to the Iowa West Foundation Trail Head Park (aka Wabash Trace), through the Iowa School for the Deaf Nature Area, and along Valley View Drive to Valley View Park, where it turns into a bike lane and then into the Valleyview Greenway Trail to McPherson Avenue, then heads north to Iowa Western Community College.

The trail leads south on 24th street and east on South Omaha Bridge Road.
A 309 foot bridge spans Indian Creek as the trail flows into Lake Manawa State Park.
Trail users can explore several smaller paths throughout Lake Manawa State Park.
Trails Have Our Respect (THOR)

Is mountain biking your thing? Then THOR can help! Ride the trails, learn more about trail-building, and take part in work days.

Click here to reach the THOR website.

THOR maintains the mountain bike trail at Lewis and Clark Monument and Scenic Overlook.



Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

© Copyright 2009 City of Council Bluffs, Iowa, All rights reserved.