Participants take off from Forest Park Museum for a bike ride along the Raccoon River Valley Trail during Celebrate Trails Day on April 25, 2026. Allison Ullmann/Raccoon Valley Radio

Saturday was Celebrate Trails Day, and an event was held for bike enthusiasts on a popular recreation trail in Dallas County.

Raccoon River Valley Trail Association Chair Pat Steele says the event is celebrated across the country and is sponsored by Rails to Trails Conservancy as a way to encourage area residents to get out and enjoy the trails. 

“(Celebrate Trails Day) is a national event that we’ve participated in for the past four years. April bike rides in Iowa can be tricky, but today we’ve got beautiful weather and a good turnout. And why we do this is we want to emphasize the importance of trails, not only for the economic impact they have in Iowa, but also for the health impact as well.”

 

Steele details that those who bike regularly are less likely to have heart disease or other chronic diseases. 

“And there’s something beneficial about being out in nature as well as the exercise that accompanies it. Iowa’s got such a wonderful trail system and we’re glad to be a part of it. And it’s terrific having this many people show up today.”

Around 50 riders pre-registered for Saturday’s event. Participants gathered at Forest Park Museum for self-guided tours and health screenings by Dallas County Hospital before taking off on a 12-mile bike ride to Minburn and back to Perry.

Steele says proceeds from the ride will be used to promote and maintain the Raccoon River Valley Trail.

To see photos from the Celebrate Trails Day event, click here.