COOPER, Iowa, Dec. 2, 2006 – The 56-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail is one of 36 trails across the U.S. that have been added this year to the roster of “National Recreation Trails” recognized by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne made the announcement in June, and the RRVT was recognized for the designation during the National Trails Symposium held in October in Davenport, Iowa.

The designation means that the RRVT will now be listed and promoted as part of the “National Recreation Trail System.” The honor comes with a certificate and the right to display special trail markers, like the one accompanying this article.

There are apparently four other trails in Iowa with the designation. Two of the others are the Sac and Fox National Recreation Trail, a seven mile trail east of Cedar Rapids along a historic path used by Native Americans, and the Smith’s Island Nature Trail, a one mile trail through a nature preserve near Pleasant Valley in eastern Iowa. We’re still researching what other Iowa trails have been awarded the National Recreation Trail designation.

Article Published: 12-02-2006