Explore the best rated trails in Dubuque, IA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bellevue Rivervue Trail and Manchester Walkway/Bikeway Trails . With more than 29 trails covering 266 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Like another user said, there are ruts and lots of loose gravel from Ridgeway to mount Horeb. Unfortunately I found one coming off a bridge and fell off my bike. I landed on right side l, got some bruises and road rash but no brokens or sprains. I had avoided some bigger, deeper ones closer to Mount Horeb but did not see this one between Ridgeway and Barneveld.
Road Mineral to calamine and back on a ebike with 1.5" tires at 45psi. Scenic but rather brutal ride. Sections are ok but then you come across sections that are really rough. The atvs go fast relative to a bike rider plus generate lots of dust and noise. I would not recommend it for biking.
While this is mainly a beautiful trail, the section from Dodgeville to Mt Horeb has some technically challenging spots. Many major ruts and lots of loose sand that may grab your rear wheels. The stretch from Mt Horeb to Msn is Way better.
Not super busy and runs along side hotel. It has a very good view of the Mississippi River and it’s not very long
Replace a bridge, with breaker rock up a 20 foot embankment. Where did the insurance money go? Close the tunnel, let land owners destroy the trail south of Monroe (driveways and drainage tubes). Please, who ever is in charge, QUIT.
I have only made it from Sageville to Graf but it is a nice wide crushed stone path with gorgeous scenery from cool rock formations, rolling hills, and streams. Very smooth riding compared to other paths I’ve been on. I will definitely be returning hopefully to finish the trail west.
I live in Darlington and this trail is near my house so it’s nice for me to go during week and just bike to path. I rarely see any ATVs ironically, but I try to go on days/hours they may not be there. ATV riders though are respectful and I slow down or stop if big group goes by. This trail is doable with a mountain bike. I gave it 4 stars since the trail is getting pretty rutty probably due to all the rain we are having, mixed with the motorized vehicles on it.
June 21, 2024
Our second day on the Heritage was even better than the first; more wildlife. It was partly sunny, still hot, and we had a 5 MPH wind from the west, gusting to around 10mph. For this ride we parked at the Epworth parking lot and headed west to Farley. There was quite a bit of elevation on this 4 mile trip (344 feet), which was a total of 5 miles as we went into Farley for lunch. After, we headed east on the trail and went to the Graf parking area. The trail was the same as the day before, perfect. The total elevation on the after lunch ride was only 141 feet. When we got back to Epworth, we were disappointed to see someone hit one of our riders car that was parked there; no note, no nothing, I would have left a note to let the driver know if I hit their car. SMH. It was a bit of a downer to an otherwise great day. Kevin
June 20 and 21, 2024
We explored the Heritage trail over two days in June. It was hot, partly sunny with a light breeze out of the west at 9 mph gusting to 15 mph. Day 1 we rode from Dyersville to Farley and return to Dyersville. It was day three in the saddle, so we took it easy and did the 12 miles in just over an hour. There was some elevation, around 250 feet going east. The trail started as asphalt but quickly turned to crushed rock/limestone. It was no issue for the group (one rider had a road back and all was good). This was perfect rails to trails. Covered ride, well maintained path and nature all around us. Was this heaven, no, it was Iowa. I highly recommend the Heritage. One PSA - the trail is not free. There is a pass required and there are several options. We took an annual pass and did not mind the donation. Enjoy the ride and I hope this helps. Kevin
June 19, 2024 (11:30AM)
Rode the Great River Trail as day two of our Mississippi trip. I was not happy with the trip at all. Let me tell you why. The trail is 60+ miles long and stretches from Savanna, IL to the Rock Island, IL area. Having read the reviews we drove up Hwy 84 to just south of Savanna. We could see the trail along the way, asphalt but a lot of cracks/bumps, dips and yikes areas. We saw maybe 2 bikers. Our starting point ended up at Spring Lake, just south of Savanna. It was a good spot and there is a 4 mile trail around this lake, which we did not do, but wished we had. Going south, our plan was to get to Thomson and grab a lunch. The weather was hot with just enough wind, out of the south, to be annoying. At first the trail was a perfect rails to trails; asphalt path, a little cluttered but ok. We rounded a turn at a nice visitors center and then the niceness ended; as did the trail. We ended up on a country road; Riverview Road; which is a road but there were limited glimpses of the river. Traffic was light therefore we had no trouble with cars/trucks. We kept waiting for the trail to pick back up but it never did. This was our main disappointment. The saving grace was Dusty's, in Thomson, IL. The friendly staff took good care of us, cooling us down and getting us some lunch. We flipped back north, past the federal penitentiary, on the country road, this time with the wind at our backs. All in all we did 16 miles with 157 feet of elevation. This was a one time trail for us. I look back at the trail map and it does show Riverview Road, however I wanted to make sure, with this review, that other riders understood that they would be on a country road.
Kevin
We rode this trail yesterday. We started at the Galena Recreation Park and rode the trail and then continued on the road to the foot of Chestnut Ski Hill. (Round trip 20 miles) It’s a very scenic ride along the river with the bluffs. I’m sure it will be even more beautiful in the summer when everything is green. Can’t wait to go back!
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