Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Urbandale

Bike touring routes & trails

Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Urbandale

Moderate

2.6

(21)

riders

Water Works Park – Gray's Lake Park loop from Urbandale

02:24

40.2km

110m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 28, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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3.42 km

Walker Johnston Park

Highlight • Trail

Discover hidden sculptures and murals throughout the park. Follow a storybook trail around the pond, enjoying pages displayed along the path. There's even a community garden where residents can grow their own food.

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8.43 km

Colby Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Colby Park is a large recreational area planted beside a church and tucked into a multi-use paved trail. They have a MASSIVE playground for kiddos, wide open grassy areas, picnic tables and benches, and a stage for live music. It seemed busy in the evening when we were there.

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8.46 km

Colby Park BCycle Bike Share Station

Highlight • Rest Area

There’s a group called BCycle Bike Share (owned by Bicycle Transit Systems). They have these stations along the trail (Clive Greenbelt) that allow you to rent traditional or electronic bikes. It’s managed on a free app, where you can purchase by the minute, hour, or opt for an annual pass. The whole process was smooth sailing. The bikes (while needing some tune ups — like the front break, for instance) were decent road bikes and fun for the family to try something new!

We went over the hour we booked them for, and they only charged us for the time we used instead of clocking a full second hour, which was very generous. They seem to be a hit around here, as they have several locations and all have bikes that are out.

Unfortunately, as far as iowa goes, this is the only city they’re in. I’d love to see them other places along trails — in some of our rural areas. I think their presence could teach kids about alternative transportation and open doors by giving them an experience they won’t have otherwise.

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16.5 km

Water Works Park

Highlight • Natural

Water Works Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and spans 1,500 acres. It is managed by Water Works, a publicly owned municipal water utility serving the greater Des Moines metropolitan area. It ranks among the largest urban parks in the United States, features a beer garden, and is dog-friendly.

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21.7 km

Gray's Lake Park

Highlight • Lake

Gray's Lake Park has a total size of 166-acres and is located in the heart of Des Moines. The lake of the same name is the park's main feature and is surrounded by a path for cycling and hiking. One of the highlights is the bridge that crosses the lake, as it can be illuminated in the evening and nighttime.

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23.7 km

Gray's Lake beach

Highlight • Beach

This sandy beach at Gray’s Lake is a great spot to pause during or after your hike. Dip your feet in the water, relax on the sand, or even have a quick picnic before finishing the loop around the lake.

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36.8 km

Colby Woods

Highlight • Forest

Colby Woods is a peaceful and scenic residential area with lush greenery, a charming small park, a small playground, and a well-maintained golf course. The Colby Woods Trail multiuse pathway runs along the beautiful North Walnut Creek, providing a perfect setting for an enjoyable bike ride.

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