When you’re looking for a unique adventure, head out to Madrid, Iowa, where you’ll find the High Trestle Trail. This impressive pathway was created as a way to support Iowa’s vibrant biking community, and the project took on a life of its own when the trail’s signature bridge was opened to the public in 2011. Check it out, the views from high above the river valley are sure to make your stomach drop!

Iowa's High Trestle Trail Bridge is the crown jewel of the 25 mile High Trestle Trail that runs through Polk, Story, Boon, and Dallas Counties.
Flickr / Phil Roeder
For nearly a decade, this paved trail has been the premier cycling destination in Iowa, and hikers flock to the trail to check out the breathtaking and stomach dropping views.
Flickr / Phil Roeder
The bridge has earned international praise for its unique design.
Flickr / Phil Roeder

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The spiraling steel that surrounds the bridge was designed to look like a mine shaft, as a tribute to those who built the local economy in the early days of the state.
Flickr / Junaidrao
At night, the High Trestle Trail Bridge lights up, creating an impressive visual effect that people travel miles to observe.
Flickr / Carol VanHook
Take some time to walk or bike the High Trestle Trail Bridge this year, and you will be rewarded with some of the best views in Iowa.
Youtube / IPT

Watch the video below for a look at this fascinating trail!

When you bike or hike the High Trestle Trail, you’ll be in for an unforgettable and scenic experience, as long as you aren’t afraid of heights! Even if the height makes you a little dizzy, you’ll find that the views are absolutely worth stepping outside of your comfort zone.

For another eerie Iowa bridge hike, read the tale of the Haunted Iowa Bridge That Will Give You Nightmares.

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High Trestle Trail, Madrid, IA, USA