RACCOON RIVER VALLEY TRAIL

About Raccoon River Valley Trail Swimming

Tucked into the gentle Iowa countryside between Des Moines and Redfield, the Raccoon River Valley Trail is beloved by cyclists and hikers — but those in the know follow the informal footpaths that peel away from the pavement and lead down to something even better: the sandy sandbars of the Raccoon River. About two miles west of Redfield, the river curves through wooded banks and opens into wide, shallow stretches where families wade in, kids splash in the shallows, and summer afternoons slow down to the pace of moving water.

The Setting and Landscape

The Raccoon River rolls through classic Midwestern terrain — cottonwoods and willows leaning over the banks, red-winged blackbirds calling from the reeds, and the trail's paved ribbon running parallel just up the slope. When you step off the trail and follow the worn dirt paths toward the water, the noise of the world fades behind a curtain of green. You'll find sandbars that appear like natural stages, soft underfoot and warm in the sun. The river bends create quiet pockets of shoreline where you can spread a towel and feel genuinely removed from the city just a short drive away. Spring and summer bring lush, vivid greenery and wildflowers along the banks, while fall transforms the corridor into a tunnel of amber and gold — a spectacular setting even if the water is too cool for swimming.

What Swimming Is Like

This is a river swim in the truest sense — unhurried, unofficial, and wonderfully unpretentious. The Raccoon River is a relatively calm, mid-sized Iowa waterway, and the sandbars near Redfield offer accessible entry points where the water is generally shallow enough for children to play and wade safely. You'll feel the cool, slightly silty current moving against your legs as you step in, a welcome contrast to the humid Iowa summer heat. Because this is an unofficial swimming area, there are no roped-off zones or designated swim lanes — just the river moving at its own pace. Water clarity varies by season and recent rainfall, as is typical of river environments, so conditions are best appreciated after a stretch of dry, calm weather. Always use your own judgment about current strength before entering.

Practical Visit Information and Local Character

The trail itself is part of the historic Raccoon River Valley Trail network and connects to the American Discovery Trail, giving this stretch of river a quiet sense of place and purpose. Facilities are available at the old train depot, a charming anchor point that adds a layer of regional history to your outing. The depot reflects the agricultural and railway heritage of central Iowa, and it's worth a few minutes of your time before or after your swim. A fee of $2.00 per person per day applies for use of the trail and its facilities. There is no camping at the site itself, so plan to make it a day trip.

Plan Your Visit: The trail is easily accessible from Des Moines, Iowa's capital city, making it an ideal half-day escape for urban residents. The small town of Redfield serves as the closest gateway, sitting just a couple of miles east of the best swimming access points. Spring through early fall is the sweet spot for a visit, with summer weekends drawing the most swimmers and fall weekdays offering a quieter, more contemplative experience along the trail.