BIKING AND TRAILS
Spin your wheels
Indianola offers exciting trails to trek! Follow former rail lines across the countryside. Brake for a pit stop at an old coal mine-turned-park. Get acquainted with wildlife in the area. Wheel your way to a great day!
Bike the paved 12-mile Summerset Trail from Indianola to Carlisle — an abandoned rail line, winding up and down through beautiful woodlands and wetlands. At the halfway point, add a quick lap around Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, a two-mile paved lakeside loop nestled in nature. You’ll find restrooms at the park too.
Ready to kick up some dirt? Once an old coal mine, Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park now features six different mountain bike trails designed for three different levels of ability and experience. Expect tight singletrack through the tailings of the old mine — challenging climbs and rapid descents! And the trail names are the best, like Coal Miner’s Daughter, Corner Pocket and Extra Credit.
Looking for a longer ride? Pedal the prairie through Warren and Polk counties on the 19-mile Great Western Trail, named for the Chicago Great Western Company whose trains operated on this line from 1892 to 1968. Get a glimpse at some of the area’s wildlife, remaining wetlands and natural prairie grasses.
Explore the natural terrain of Lake Ahquabi State Park. Just you and the treelined trail! More than six miles of it, to be exact. There are plenty of places to picnic and refuel along the way. Our advice? Take your earbuds out and listen to countless bird songs!
Tasty Tip #67: After you’ve tackled the trails, it’s time for a slice of legendary Pete’s Pizza and a big frosty mug of your favorite beer. People travel miles for a piece of this pie! And fun fact, some of Pete’s specialty pizzas bear the names of the locals who created them!
Hit the trail
Indianola is the place to get your steps in. Raise your heart rate on one of our more challenging trails. Or just take a slow stroll to quiet the noise of the day.
Chart your course from the trailhead of our three main hard surface trails. The trailhead is the perfect place to prep. There are restrooms and a vending machine with drinks to whet your whistle (restrooms and vending not available in the winter months.)
From the trailhead: Take the McVay Trail east for a two-mile trek to Pickard Park. Pack a snack in your pack and enjoy some shade at Pickard. Or head north on Summerset Trail for a lengthier hike. Summerset Trail takes you nearly 12 miles through gorgeous woods and wetlands to Carlisle. Find a pit bathroom halfway at Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park. While there, do a two-mile lap around Banner Lakes. Once the site of an old coal mine, Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park is a trophy case for nature and wildlife! If you want to get a good city snapshot, go west from the trailhead on Jerry Kelley Trail. Follow this sidewalk trail past Buxton Park to Memorial Park (1 mile) and continue west to Wilder Elementary (1.5 miles). Jerry Kelley Trail is a combo of off-street walkways and shared bike paths. Enjoy Buxton park’s beautiful blooms along the way!
The Warren County Conservation Board currently manages more than 2,700 acres of land. The conservation board offers a wide variety of activities to the public. WCCB conserves for this generation and generations to come.
Locations include Annett Nature Center & Park, Bank Swallow Bend, Blue Flag Marsh, Grant Nature Land, Hickory Hills Park, Lundy Acres, Otter Creek Park, Rolling Thunder Prairie, Woodland Mounds Preserve, and Zo-El Annett Woods. Click on the location to the left for more information on each of these locations.
Up for a real wilderness adventure? It all starts at Annett Nature Center. Follow the primary trail down into the forest, through the wetlands, across a rugged wood bridge to the wildlife viewing platform where you can see for miles! Annett Nature Center also offers a host of hikes for explorers of all ages, like Storywalks® where families can find nature-themed children’s books along the trail to read while you hike. Ever heard of geocaching? In this hike/treasure hunt, you’ll grab your phone and use coordinates to search for 25 hidden containers!
Make the most of mowed grass trails at Pickard Park, where there are options for a one-mile hike on Terrace Trail or two-mile trip on the Pond & Prairie Trail. DeNelsky Park’s half-mile loop is a nice, quick trip through the wilderness.
