The loop begins at the Freedom Rock in Adel and heads East. The route includes the entirety of the trail (minus the Jefferson out/back) and includes a diversion from the trail due to the 2020 construction between Redfield and Adel. The diversion does continue on a gravel road that runs parallel to the trail for the entire final 10 miles.
(Editor's Note: when the trail is re-opened, the Route should be adjusted to eliminate the road section).
Aaron Kissinger suggests doing the loop with both out-and-backs:
This route starts at the intersection of the Clive Greenbelt Trail and Des Moines Trail behind the western most ball field at Campbell Recreation Area located at 12385 Woodlands Pkwy., Clive, IA 50325.
The route initially follows the Clive Greenbelt Trail before a short northward section that connects to the Raccoon River Valley Trail along Hickman Road in Clive. Once you are on the paved Raccoon River Valley trail, you will follow it all the way for the remainder of the route and pass through the towns of Waukee, Dallas Center, Minburn, Perry, Dawson, Jamaica, and Jefferson
The route does include the out and back section to the town of Jefferson from the intersection just west of the town of Jamaica. When completing the out and back section, you will continue south to continue the full loop passing through the towns of Yale, Panora, Linden, Redfield, Adel, and Waukee.
Along the route, you will pass through many small towns which make this a great route for unsupported, self supported, or supported attempts. The Raccoon River Valley Trail is very well marked which helps and consists of either paved or asphalt surfaces.
https://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/
