Take a unique trip on historic railroad tracks while experiencing some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest. You can now pedal your way along historic railways on a rail bike in Boone, Iowa.
Rail Explorers is partnering with The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad to bring the first rail bike tours to the Midwest. Riders will enjoy picturesque views of the Des Moines River Valley. The railroad is a popular spot for locals and tourists.
The ride’s showstopper is the 750-foot-long, 156-doot-high “Bass Point Creek High Trestle.” You’ll pedal along the bridge and take in panoramic views of the valley and experience the thrill of crossing the creek below.
Boone, Iowa Tours
Two different tours are available in Boone. The Scenic Valley Trail is a 2-hour, 12.5-mile round trip from open farmland to the Des Moines River. You’ll cross the Bass Creek High Trestle and the Des Moines River Bridge. You’re encouraged to bring a drink and a snack to enjoy some time at Rose’s Landing Turnaround.
The Scenic Valley Sunset is the same route but leaves in the evening so you can enjoy sunset views along your ride.
About Rail Explorers
The idea for Rail Explorers was actually born from a scene in a Korean soap opera. CEO Mary Joy Lu was watching one of her favorites and saw the rail bike being pedaled along the railroad tracks. She hopped on a plane to South Korea, and the rest is history.
Rail bikes date back to the 1850s, when maintenance workers used them to travel along the tracks. Today, there are several designs in use all over the world. There is no locomotive on the rail bikes, but they do have an electric assist motor, so they can be operated by all ages and abilities.
Rail Explorers began in July of 2015 in New York’s Adirondacks. The concept took off and now more than 350,000 people have enjoyed tours in the Adirondacks, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York’s Catskill Mountains, Cooperstown, NY, and now Boone, Iowa.
About The Boone And Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum
The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum is Iowa’s only regularly operating tourist railroad. The trains are a division of the Iowa Railroad Historical Society. It operates on the former segment of the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad between Boone and Fraser. The trains take you through the heart of the Midwest through the beautiful Des Moines River Valley. You’ll ride on 1920s-era coaches or the climate-controlled dining cars of the 1950s.