WEEKDAY WALKS
Free, not sanctioned
Thursday, September 8 – 4:00PM – Altoona, IA. Take Exit 243 towards Altoona (south) (1st Ave). Continue on 1st Ave South towards Elevators. Once you reach the elevators on your right (west), you will cross several railroad tracks. After the last track, immediately turn left (east), and the staging area will be on your left. There is a porta potty on the far side of the staging area. We will enjoy an Altoona history walk developed by Altoona Parks & Rec. Bring your sack dinner; after the walk, we’ll head to a nearby park for dinner & conversation!
Monday, September 12 – 5:30PM – Indian Creek Trail, 116 South 11th St., Nevada. We will start the walk with a breeze through the Butterfly Garden and walk the Indian Creek Trail out and back. It is all paved. We walk through timber, backyards, and the fairgrounds. A fun stroll for a September evening.
Monday, September 19 – 10:30AM – Annette Nature Center,15565 118th Ave, Indianola. The Annette Nature Center is 160 acres, including ponds & wetlands. The mowed grass and crushed rock trail winds through prairie and wooded areas. There is an osprey observation tower and pollinator gardens. The Nature Center features a variety of interpretive exhibits. After our walk, we will enjoy a hot dog roast at one of the shelters. Hot dogs and buns will be supplied (thank you, Phyllis Olson and Norma Wessel). The rest of us should bring side dishes to share, our table setting, our drink, and our own hot dog roasting stick.
Wednesday, September 21 – 10:00AM – Carl Voss Trail near Easter Lake. Meet at East Park and S.E. 25th St, Des Moines. Parking will be on the street in this residential neighborhood. A Public Art Grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines has allowed Des Moines Parks and Recreation to install five art corridors along the Central Iowa Trail System within Des Moines. The corridors feature art selected from 64 submissions from 40 local artists. Trail users will view art from both directions of travel. We will enjoy the artwork along the Carl Voss Trail near Easter Lake.
For a map of locations of the art corridors, go to dsm.city/departments/parks and_recreation-division, click on Planning Division, then click on Projects. A PDF map of each corridor and the artwork displayed is also available. D.M. Parks and Rec phone: 515-237-1386.
Thursday, September 29 – 10:00AM – Clive Greenbelt. Meet at the Clive Library, 1900 N.W. 114th St, Clive. This will be a George-led walk along some greenbelt timber trails. We might even see some fall color!!
Looking ahead to October, we should still have excellent outdoor walking weather. Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, October 5. That is the date of the 12TH ANNUAL Healthiest State Annual Walk. The Annual Walk is an opportunity to join thousands of other Iowans statewide in walking for 30 minutes. Workplaces, schools, organizations, and cities are all registering walks! And we have, too!!
Meet at 5:30 PM at Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge, 2500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines. We’ll loop the lake. OK, that’s a little more than 30 minutes, but it’s a fun, easy trail, and we’ll eat out afterward!
GROUP WALKS
Sep 24 Traditional Event: Downtown Breweries - 5K and 10K
Start between 11 AM and 1 PM. Finish by 3 PM
Peace Tree Brewing Co, 317 E Court Ave, Des Moines 50309. Park across Court Ave in the lot between E 4th and E 6th streets.
New routes and new breweries! The trail is on city sidewalks and paved multi-use trails from the East Village to the Western Gateway. Pets on leash welcome on most brewery patios.
Directions: From I-235, take E 6th St south toward the Capitol. After Walnut St, turn right into the parking lot and park on the far end. Peace Tree is across the intersection. Please do not park in the Peace Tree lot; it is small.
Watch for signs.
POC: Diana Ronk 515.491.8903 ronkdr@mchsi.com
Oct 15 Traditional Event: Walk with Wildlife - 5k and 10k/1B
Granger
Start between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Finish by 3 PM
Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center, 12112 NW 128th St, Granger 50109
Park trails and roads. Ideal for pets on a leash. It is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. This park features bison and elk herds.
Directions: From Des Moines, take IA-141 north to NW 121st St (note sign to Jester Park). Turn right on NW 121st St to 118th Ave.
Turn left on 118th Ave and follow the curve to the right on 128th St. Turn right at the park entrance.
POC: Diana Ronk 515.491.8903 ronkdr@mchsi.com
Nov 12 Group Walk Veteran’s Memorial 5 K and 10K 1A
10 AM. Come early to register.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D Ray Dr, Des Moines 50309
The Capitol Complex features wonderful statues and monuments.
For more information, see the Des Moines Capitol Walk
POC: Deb Gaskins 515.238.2486 gaskins.deb@gmail.com
Iowa's Walking Club promotes physical fitness through non-competitive sporting events. Our events are designed to help community members have fun, become fit, and make friends. We hope you'll join us!
Inclement weather policy: Generally we do not cancel based on weather forecasts. To check for cancellations, see our Facebook or MeetUp pages.
COVID precautions: masks and social distancing are required indoors and at registration. Use your own judgment regarding the risks associated with our outdoor walks.
BECOME A MEMBER
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Memberships are for 12 months from Jan 1 to Dec 31.
From Aug 31-Dec 31, you automatically are registered for the following year.
WE'RE GOING TO TEXAS!
Join Iowa's Walking Club for the experience of a lifetime!
You can sit back and ride to the 18th IVV Olympiad in a spacious motor coach with Wi-Fi. The coach departs from Des Moines on February 17, 2023 for a 12 day trip to walk with our friends from around the world.
Passenger pickup points may be arranged along the route of South I-35. Overnight stays will be in 2 & 3 star hotels and in the headquarters hotel for 9 nights during the planned Olympiad and IML events. In San Antonio we will be staying in the La Quinta Inn on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk in the heart of San Antonio. Restaurants, bars, shopping and other activities are available on the Riverwalk.
The biennial AVA Convention Membership Meeting will be held on Friday February 24 during the 8-days of the Olympiad and IML.