WEEKDAY WALKING
Free, not sanctioned
After the fun of Walking Week, let’s keep walking. We’ve got several pleasant events to round out our April walking. Besides our inside offering, these are good weather walks. We won’t walk if it’s raining; otherwise, bundle up and enjoy the outdoors.
Friday, Apr 29, 10AM – Urbandale Trails. Start/finish at McDivitt Cemetery, 7001 Meredith Dr, Urbandale. Park along 70th Street. We’ll explore the extensive Urbandale trail system.
Wednesday, May 4, 9AM – Pappajohn Sculpture Park (Art Walk with Pat). Join us for a guided tour of the 4.4 acres John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, featuring artwork by more than two dozen of the world’s most celebrated artists. The park opened in 2009 and created a pedestrian-friendly entryway to downtown Des Moines. We will meet at 9:15 AM at the parking lot east of the Capitol on East 12th Street and take the free D-Line bus, which runs in a loop from the Iowa State Capitol complex to the Western Gateway. Masks might still be required. Another option is to join us at the Sculpture Park at 10 AM for the guided tour. Metered street parking is available surrounding the park.
Thursday, May 12, 2PM – Copper Creek, 4390 E University, Pleasant Hill – Meet in the parking lot to walk the 1.2 mile Gay Lea Wilson Trail around beautiful Copper Creek Lake.
Tuesday, May 17, 5PM – Ankeny Market & Pavilion, 715 W 1st St., Ankeny – Meet in the parking lot, then walk Uptown Ankeny, Wagner & Hawkeye Park, Prairie Ridge Sports Complex, and a portion of Ankeny High Trestle Trail. This is a history walk; you’ll learn quite a bit about Ankeny.
Wednesday, May 25, 10:30AM – Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, 13084 Elk Horn St, Carlisle -Summerset State Park is the newest State Park, just off Highway 69/65, about 4 miles south of Southridge Mall. Meet in the parking lot as you enter the park. Many locals remember the area as Banner Pits when the site was mined for coal in the early 1930s. The walk will be on the paved scenic bike loop, which runs alongside the park’s roadway around the larger lake. Rescheduled National Walking Week event!
Monday, May 30, 10AM – Gray’s Lake, 2101 Fleur Dr, Des Moines – Let’s get a little exercise on Memorial Day. Meet in the SE parking lot for a stroll around the lake. We will also cross under Fleur Drive for a tour into Waterworks Park.
Wednesday, June 1, 5:30PM – Ada Hayden Heritage Park, 5205 Grand Ave, Ames - We’ll meet at the shelter off Highway 69 and enjoy some lovely trails around the lake and neighborhood.
Contact Susan Pinneke at 515.423.8437 (call or text) for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
$3 fee, sanctioned
May 7 Cedar Rapids Group Walk
This hike takes us along the Cedar River, past several of the city’s fine museums and three buildings that have been the city’s main library. It also includes the carriage house where painter Grant Wood once lived and where he painted “American Gothic.” The 10k adds on a circuit around Cedar Lake and passes Quaker Oats.
Time: 10:30AM
Start/Finish: Kosek Bandstand, 70-16th St, Cedar Rapids 52404
Distance/Rating: 5k and 10k/ 1A
POC: Jonathan Ice 319.538.7293
WEEKEND FUN MAY 20-22
This will be a weekend full of walking and socializing in north Iowa. Three walks in three days in Forest City, Estherville, and Northwood.
Mark your calendars now!
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
Members receive reminders and notices of upcoming events.
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.