The trail
The High Trestle Trail, near The Pines
The High Trestle Trail starts 1.6 miles from The Pines, at the Ankeny Market and Pavilion on West First Street. It is the trail people drive across the state to ride, and you would be starting from the near end.
What the trail is
About 25 paved miles running northwest from Ankeny to Woodward, built on a former railroad corridor and opened in 2011. It passes through Sheldahl, Slater and Madrid along the way, and Polk County Conservation and its partner counties maintain it. From the Ankeny Market and Pavilion trail head, 1.6 miles from the neighborhood, the whole thing is in front of you.
The bridge
The trail is named for the half-mile former railroad trestle that carries it across the Des Moines River valley between Madrid and Woodward. It rises about 13 stories over the valley and is wrapped in a steel art installation lit after dark, which is the picture most people have seen before they ever ride it. It sits near the far end of the trail from Ankeny, so reaching it is a ride, not a stroll.
Starting from the near end
Living 1.6 miles from a trail head changes how often you use it. A ride stops being a weekend plan and becomes an after-work loop. The Gay Lea Wilson and Neal Smith trails also connect in Ankeny, so the paved network from here runs well past the High Trestle itself, up along Saylorville Lake to Big Creek State Park. The homes run from 1,360 to 1,800 square feet across four plans, in two and three bedrooms, each with an attached garage, a washer and dryer in the home, central air and a gas fireplace. Live pricing for whatever is open is on the availability page.
Questions people ask
How far is The Pines from the High Trestle Trail?
The trail head at the Ankeny Market and Pavilion, 715 West First Street, is 1.6 miles from The Pines by road.
How long is the High Trestle Trail?
About 25 paved miles, running northwest from Ankeny to Woodward through Sheldahl, Slater and Madrid. It opened in 2011 on a former railroad corridor.
Where is the lit bridge on the High Trestle Trail?
The half-mile trestle bridge crosses the Des Moines River valley between Madrid and Woodward, near the far end of the trail from Ankeny. It is a steel art installation lit after dark.
Who maintains the High Trestle Trail?
Polk County Conservation and its partner county conservation boards.
Trail facts from Polk County Conservation and the High Trestle Trail's published route, October 2026. Distance measured by road from our address using OpenStreetMap, September 2026.
More about living here
- Moving to Ankeny, Iowa
- Schools near The Pines
- Parks and trails near The Pines
- Groceries and everyday errands near The Pines
- Eating and drinking near The Pines
- Commuting from The Pines
- Things to do in Ankeny
- Single-level homes at The Pines
- Maintenance-free living at The Pines
- The floor plans at The Pines, explained
- How to apply at The Pines
- Working from home at The Pines
- Pet-friendly townhomes in Ankeny
- What residents say about The Pines
- The neighborhood guide
- All questions