Travel the entirety of the Clive Greenbelt Trail, from Lions Park on the West to 73rd Street on the East. This is a one way trail totaling 7.84 miles. It’s a mostly shaded, flat asphalt trail that is well maintained. Located in Clive, a suburb of Des Moines, you will likely encounter other runners, walkers, and bikers. The trail has been around for decades, so most runners in the area will be familiar with it, and hopefully with this now posted, many will be ready to give it a go from one side to the other of this long, narrow city, whose clever logo is befitting of this iconic wooded urban trail: “Distinct, by nature.”
At Lions Park (where Wildwood and 159th meet), start at the parking lot, go around the gazebo, south through the park, and East/left at the T. There is about .75 miles of road running between 142nd and Country Club Blvd: cross 142nd and continue on Lakeview Dr until you get to Country Club Blvd, turn right (alternatively you can turn from Lakeview Dr to Lakeshore and then Right onto Country Club Blvd: runner’s choice). The trail will be on your left across the road after you go over the dam/road. Take the trail to the underpass at 73rd street. If you are at Walmart, you’ve gone too far.
You can go either direction: parking’s easier at Lion’s park, though it may be slightly harder to figure out the street running. If you start at 73rd, park in a business parking lot over by Sam’s/Walmart and walk on the path to the underpass.
https://www.traillink.com/trail/clive-greenbelt-trail/
https://www.cityofclive.com/parkandrecreation/greenbelt/trail/index.php
