Sac

The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33-mile long multi-use hard surface recreational trail in Sac and Carroll Counties. With Lake View, Black Hawk Lake and Black Hawk State Park at the north end, the trail winds through the countryside communities of Carnarvon, Breda and Maple River before reaching Swan Lake State park south of Carroll.

There are several rest stops along the way, from parks to benches to bars and restaurants. Each community along the trail welcomes visitors with small-town Iowa hospitality. There are many routes beyond the Sauk Rail Trail for riders to explore, such as the community/park trail system in Breda and the Black Hawk Lake trail in Lake View.

To purchase SRT permits online, please visit: Annual SRT Permit

7/2024: A small section of the Sauk Rail Trail in Sac County will be closed after the July 4th, 2024 weekend. The part of the trail that currently sits atop the DNR Black Hawk Marsh dike will be removed starting on Monday, July 8th. The concrete trail is being removed to allow the DNR to repair and rebuild the dike later this year. This portion of the Sauk Rail Trail will be closed until a new concrete trail can be constructed next year. For any questions please contact the Sac County Conservation Board office at Hagge Park.

Location

The start (or end) of the trail is marked with a Bike Arch in Lake View on 4th Street.

2 Blocks East, off of M68. OR take Lake Street off of 471, then West on 4th Street.

Features

The multi-purpose trail offers something for everyone all year long.  Snowmobiling and cross country skiing are popular activities during the winter.

Trailgoers can find many historic landmarks along the trail, including a historical farmstead in Swan Lake State Park, a restored 1905 train depot in Breda and the iconic stone piers on Black Hawk Lake. While there are some hilly sections around Swan Lake, a majority of the Sauk Rail Trail was built on abandoned railroad beds which creates flat terrain for an easy ride. Wildlife viewing opportunities are prevalent along the trail. Traveling through the Black Hawk Marsh, Hazelbrush Wildlife Area along the Sauk Bluebird Trail makes you feel like one with nature.

Operating Hours & Seasons

This hard-surface trail is open year round.

An Annual Permit or daily pass is required for all trail users. Permits can be purchases along the trail or from Carroll County Conservation or Sac County Conservation. Or you can visit this link: Sauk Rail Trail Permit

To purchase SRT permits online, please visit: Annual SRT Permit