Fall is upon us and there is no better time to be outdoors in central Iowa. The air is cool and crisp. Leaves crunch underfoot and hues of red and gold fluttering against a blue sky can’t be beat. So, take a break this fall for a family hike. It provides a unique opportunity to unplug, spend special quality time together and best of all it’s FREE!
For more fall family fun like area apple orchards and pumpkin patches, see our Fall Fun Guide. Or, sign up for our FREE Weekend Fun Guide to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.
Tips for Fall Hiking with Kids
As with most things, planning is the key to success when hiking with kids in tow. If your kids are new to hiking it can be challenging at first. Here are a few things that will help you have the most successful fall hike with kids:
- Foliage changes colors at a different time each year depending on weather. October is the peak time in central Iowa. Iowa DNR’s Fall Color Report is a great resource to find out how the color change is progressing.
- Fall colors are best where there are many different species of trees. In Iowa, the most diverse woods occur close to water sources, so hikes near a creek or river are most likely to have the best fall colors.
- Fall weather is beautiful; the mornings are cool and the afternoons are warm. But the changes in temperature can make it tricky to dress comfortably for hiking. It is extremely easy to dress too warm or not warm enough. Your best bet is to dress in layers. As the day warms, take off the jacket and roll up your sleeves. Lightweight gloves, hats and scarves may be needed as well.
- Bring bug spray. Bugs start to thin out in the fall, but you never know when you might need it.
- Hike when energy levels are their highest for kids. Dragging tired kids on a hike can be miserable.
- Bring healthy snacks. Hiking burns a lot of energy. Snacks like granola bars, trail mix, nuts and dried fruit help hikers feel fuller longer.
- Tailor your expectations, especially if your kids don’t have much experience hiking. Most of the trails in central Iowa are easy but it will take much more time hiking with kids than without.
- Stop and smell the wildflowers. Take time to enjoy the little things along the trail. See how many different colors of wildflowers you can find. How many different types of insects can you find? Let your kids experience what moss and tree bark feels like. Kids are naturally curious and love to explore. Help them focus on what is around them instead of their tired legs.
- Don’t give up. Just because your kids can’t hike as far or as fast as you would like doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
- Leave the planning to someone else. Join a guided hike offered by local parks and recreation departments and county conservation offices. We’ve listed several taking place this fall on our Event Calendar.
Here are a few places that offer beautiful fall colors in the Des Moines area:
Carney Marsh Trail
698 SE 54th Street • Ankeny, IA 50021 • (515) 963-3570
Hours: During day light savings time 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. Sunrise to sunset the rest of the year.
Carney Marsh Nature Preserve, a 40-acre wildlife area, is a great place for hikers to hop on the Gay Lea Wilson trail.
Colby Woods Trail
Colby Woods Drive and Maple Drive • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 278-3963
Hours: 6:00 am to 10:30 pm
Colby Woods Trail is a 5.2 mile paved path that runs along Walnut Creek. Trail access is located near 8104 N. Walnut Creek Drive, 8118 N. Walnut Creek Drive, and also 3104 Pine Circle.
Fort Des Moines Park
7200 SE 5th Street • Des Moines, IA 50315
Hours: Summer Hours – 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; Winter Hours – Sunrise to sunset
This 135-acre park’s centerpiece is a deep 14-acre lake and it features a rare stand of aspen trees. Discover the many unique features of this park as you “Loop the Lake”.
Jordan Creek Park
310 50th Street • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3444
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Jordan Creek Greenway is a 275.5 acre green space that runs east and west throughout the city. A 7 mile paved multipurpose trail is a favorite place for local walkers and hikers. There are four trail heads located along the path for easy access.
Yellow Banks Park
6801 SE 32nd Avenue • Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 • (515) 266-1563
Hours: During day light savings time park is open 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; Sunrise to sunset the rest of the year.
Hiking trails at this 552-acre park lead to scenic overlooks, an oak savanna, a Native American burial mound, and a unique backpacking camping area.
Summerset Trail
(515) 961-6169
Hours: The trail is open from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm.
Stretching eleven miles from Carlisle to Indianola, the Summerset Trail follows the route of an abandoned rail line and passes through rolling hills and wetland river bottom as it winds from town to town. Trailheads are located in Indianola, Carlisle and Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park.
Thomas Mitchell Park
4520 NE 108 Street • Mitchellville, IA 50169 • (515) 967-4889
Hours: During day light savings time 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. Sunrise to sunset the rest of the year.
A tall, wooded ridge is the most prominent natural feature of this park south of Mitchellville. With over 175 acres to explore, the park sustains an oak-hickory woodland filled with mushrooms, wildflowers, and wildlife that attracts hikers.
Voas Nature Area
19286 Lexington Road • Minburn, IA 50167 • (515) 465-3577
Hours: The Voas Nature Area entry gate is open from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 10:00 pm each day.
The Voas Nature Area is a 705 acre park located approximately 1 1/2 miles west of Minburn. It includes around 110-acres of oak/hickory forest, and nearly 600 acres of restored prairie and wetland complex. Voas Nature Area includes over 5 miles of mowed hiking trails.
Walnut Woods State Park
3155 Walnut Woods Drive • West Des Moines, IA 50265
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Walnut Woods is open year-round and is a great place for a short fall hike. There are approximately two and one-half miles of trails. The park encompasses 260 acres of wooded bottomland along the Raccoon River. Within the park lies a large surviving natural stand of black walnut trees.
What’s your family’s favorite hiking spot to see fall foliage in the Des Moines area?
