July 4th weekend marked the start of the busiest time of year on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, with so many cyclists doing training rides before RAGBRAI. Other areas of Iowa have experienced flooding, but west central Iowa is fine and there are no floodwaters on the RRVT.
COOPER, Iowa, July 1, 2011 – The 4th of July weekend marks the start of the busiest month each year on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Hundreds of cyclists are on the RRVT nearly every day as they round-off their training for RAGBRAI — the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — which is scheduled for July 24-30 this year. Early in that week of RAGBRAI, hundreds of them will be using the trail to join up with the RAGBRAI route when the big ride is passing from Carroll to Boone in west central Iowa.
A quick check at week’s end with all three county conservation directors who manage the RRVT, confirms that the trail is fully open and available now — from the Des Moines metro area all the way to Jefferson, and also the new stretch of eight miles between Dawson thru Perry. Riders will encounter no flood waters on the trail from the Raccoon River system.
The flooding questions have become plentiful the last two weeks when, in western Iowa, the Missouri River has gone on its rampage.
But again, no problems along the RRVT.
“We are in good shape in Guthrie County,” said Joe Hanner.
“Everything looks good in Greene County,” said Dan Towers.
And the trail is clear in Dallas County, too.
So have fun out there!
