 The Sauk
Rail Trail is a 33 mile long multi-use recreational trail
that was completed in 1998. The trail is managed by both
the Sac and Carroll County Conservation Boards. It is the
first recreational trail in the state of Iowa to connect
two state parks. It begins in Lake View near Blackhawk
Lake State Park and winds through the countryside of Sac
and Carroll counties, ending in Swan Lake State Park south
of Carroll. The trail surface is concrete from Lake View
to Carnarvon, crushed limestone from Carnarvon to Maple
River Junction, and asphalt from Maple River Junction to
Swan Lake. It is an excellent place for biking, walking,
jogging and in-line skating and is open for snowmobiling
and cross-county skiing during the winter, and portions of
the trail are open for hunting during the appropriate
seasons. Check with the SCCB for details on hunting on the
Sauk Rail Trail.
 As the
trail winds its way through the scenic rural route, it
passes through the towns of Lake View, Carnarvon, Breda,
Maple River Junction and Carroll. There are many places to
stop and relax or grab a bite to eat or even do a bit of
shopping. Several spots of interest include the old
railroad depot in Breda, an abandoned railroad trestle
near Swan Lake State Park and beautiful Blackhawk Lake
near Lake View, as well as numerous shops and restaurants.
This trail definitely has something for everyone and makes
a great place to spend an hour or a whole day exploring
with family and friends! |
Conservation
