HOURS
Conservation Center
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Sauk Rail Trail
Discover Iowa's first trail connecting two state parks!
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5 Friendly Communities
2 Beautiful Lakes
1 Great Ride
The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33-mile long multi-use hard surface recreational trail in Sac and Carroll Counties. With Lake View, Black Hawk Lake and Black Hawk State Park at the north end, the trail winds through the countryside communities of Carnarvon, Breda and Maple River before reaching Swan Lake State park south of Carroll.
Trailgoers can find many historic landmarks along the trail, including a historical farmstead in Swan Lake State Park, a restored 1905 train depot in Breda and the iconic stone piers on Black Hawk Lake. While there are some hilly sections around Swan Lake, a majority of the Sauk Rail Trail was built on abandoned railroad beds which creates flat terrain for an easy ride. Wildlife viewing opportunities are prevalent along the trail. Traveling through the Black Hawk Marsh, Hazelbrush Wildlife Area along the Sauk Bluebird Trail makes you feel like one with nature.
There are several rest stops along the way, from parks to benches to bars and restaurants. Each community along the trail welcomes visitors with small-town Iowa hospitality. There are many routes beyond the Sauk Rail Trail for riders to explore, such as the community/park trail system in Breda and the Black Hawk Lake trail in Lake View.
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The multi-purpose trail offers something for everyone all year long. Snowmobiling and cross country skiing are popular activities during the winter.
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