The Wabash Trace Nature Trail began as Iowa's longest rail-trail.
This 63-mile long crushed limestone trail was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s on a portion of the former Council Bluffs and St. Louis railroad. The trail is a pathway through a serene and unique landscape, often along the base of the Loess Hills.
The Iowa West Foundation Council Bluffs Trailhead is near the Intersection of Hwy 275 & Hwy 92, where Harry Langdon Blvd (Wabash Ave) and East South Omaha Bridge Road meet, near Lewis Central School and Iowa School for the Deaf.
The Trail crosses the Iowa Counties of Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont, and Page.
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For Council Bluffs, warm weather brings with it the promise of Thursday Night Taco Rides along the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
On Thursday evenings from the spring (around April or May) through the late fall (usually until Halloween), Council Bluffs and Omaha cyclists meet at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park and head off on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail on a 20-mile round-trip trek for tacos at Tobey Jack’s Mineola Steak House.
The first two miles of the ride are mostly flat, while the next four are up-hill until riders cross Dumfries Ave. Shortly after Dumfries, riders will find a picnic area, nicknamed Margaritaville, where riders often stop for refreshments, conversation, and a break.
After Margaritaville, riders enjoy a downhill ride to Mineola before breaking off the trail and making their way to Tobey Jack’s Mineola Steakhouse. If you’re not in the mood for tacos, Tobey Jack’s has a diverse menu of entrees, burgers, salads, pizza, and more. After dinner, riders either head back up the trail or hitch a ride back to their car with friends who drove to Tobey Jack’s.
The Wabash Trace Nature Trail makes for a scenic evening bike ride, winding through the countryside and the Loess Hills—a rare formation of windblown soils created during the last ice age. The trail is a converted railroad and runs a total of 63 miles.
You can check out our community calendar for a full list of taco ride events, but please keep in mind that they are all weather permitting. For trail updates, please visit the Taco Ride Facebook page.
