Neal Smith Trail

So we actually did this ride on Tuesday June 18th but we just started this blog and that wasn't too long ago so we will add it as our first post.  The Neal Smith trail actually starts as the John Pat Dorrian trail in Des Moines then runs north to connect to the Neal Smith.  As you bike along the path next to you is the Des Moines river for most of the route until the trail curves and you bike along the east side of Saylorville Lake. Eventually the trail ends at the Big Creek beach and marina in Big Creek State Park.  The length of the Neal Smith trail is 26 miles and the John Pat Dorrian trail is 2.2 miles.  You can also reach the Trestle to Trestle trail off the the Neal Smith which is 3.8 miles.

On one of the bridges in the more forested part of the trail.

Kathryn and I did not do the entire route.  We started from Cherry Glen Campground on the east side of Saylorville Lake and took the trail to the end (Big Creek beach and marina).  This portion of the trail had both open prairie and forested portions which contained winding turns, small hills, large drops, bridges and connections to many other campgrounds, boat docks and roads.  We both really enjoyed this trail. The forested portions were slightly shaded which was nice because it was close to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and not a cloud in the sky.  The open parts were really hot. The last few miles of the ride was mainly downhill and across a few bridges.  It was forested and high above the river.  Going over the bridges and being that exposed was kind-of scary but we quickly crossed it before we over-thought the situation.  The forest quickly turned into the open prairie again and we knew we were close to the end of the trail. Once we arrived to the beach and marina we stopped to take a break.  At that point we had biked 12 miles.  This also was our first bike ride so at this point we were really tired.  We then made hot dogs on a grill nearby and went kayaking on the lake.  After all of this excitement we caught a ride from a friend back to our campsite because we were too tired from the activities and drained from the sun.  Overall it was a great trail!

Here is the link to the trail: http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Portals/48/docs/Recreation/ODS/Maps/Saylorville%20Map.pdf