![]() There is a mix of cinder and limestone until you get southward to/past Derby, then there is grass. I rode the entire path, round trip, last Saturday, and loved it. The cinder sections are smoother than the limestone sections, but then there are the grassy sections, which almost seem like double tracks. It all in the name…Cinder Path…NOT Cinder Trail. This was a very fun trail as far as I'm concerned, and I found no issues with its ruggedness. Most of my riding are rail trails, some of my riding is mtn biking. and at the Humeston Union Depot and Museum at 422 N. On-street parking is available in the vicinity of Fletcher St. Go 0.1 mile to find the trail on the left. Front St./US 65 then go 0.6 mile, and turn right onto Fletcher St. Go 1.8 miles, and turn right onto US 69 then go 1 mile and turn left onto County Road J22. To reach the southern trailhead in Humeston from I-35, take Exit 22 east onto E. After parking, backtrack 0.1 mile to Vine St., turn left, and look for the trail on the right. Go 0.8 mile, and look for on-street parking in the vicinity of Front and Broad Streets. ![]() Go 6.8 miles, and turn left onto Front St. Go 17.7 miles, and merge with US 65 in Lucas then go 0.6 mile, and turn right onto US 65. To reach the trailhead in Derby from I-35, take Exit 33 onto US 34 E toward Osceola. Go 0.3 mile, and look for trailhead parking on the right. US 34/Court Ave., and then immediately bear right onto Bus. To reach the northern trailhead in Chariton from I-35, take Exit 33 onto US 34 E toward Osceola. A wooden water tower across the street is said to be the last remaining such structure in Iowa. The two railroads agreed to build the combined depot, which was completed in 1883. The town served as a junction for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska Railroads beginning in 1880. The Humeston Union Depot and Museum, one block south of the trailhead at 422 North Eaton Avenue, is worth a visit for railroad buffs. You’ll arrive in Humeston 5.6 miles after leaving Derby. Entering Wayne County, you’ll notice that gates bar horses and all-terrain vehicles at the rural road crossings. Riding a bike with fat tires or walking is the best way to explore past Derby, as the trail is grass-covered and can be soggy. The trail reappears on the left in what looks to be an empty grassy lot the groomed section and a small sign will help you identify the path. Turn left onto Front Street when you arrive, follow it to the right onto Derby Avenue, and then turn right onto Vine Street at a T-junction. The trail enters Derby in 9.7 miles and runs through town streets for 0.3 mile. You’re also likely to see deer, rabbits, and other wildlife along the trail. ![]() Several wooden bridges mark the route to Derby, including a covered bridge about 6 miles from Chariton. You’ll frequently pass benches and resting areas along the way, although they show lots of wear. The trail soon takes you into woods along the river-offering the sight of a flock of pelicans or waterfowl whenever an opening in the tree buffer arises. Be sure to stock up on food and water before setting out, as services are rare along the Cinder Path. ![]() The Lucas County Conservation Board bought the corridor that same year and established the trail.īeginning in Chariton, you’ll find a monument at the trailhead for community champion Dwaine Clanin, who played an integral role in the trail’s conversion and development. The railroad later became the Burlington Northern Railroad, which abandoned the railbed in 1974. The trail follows a branch line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad built in 1872 that ran between Chariton and St. Grass covers the trail south of Derby, and the path can be challenging in rainy weather. Following a shady route past farms and wetlands along the Chariton River between Chariton and Humeston for 13.5 miles, the crushed-stone and cinder surface shows its age in places. The Cinder Path in southern Iowa is notable as the state’s first rail-to-trail conversion. ![]()
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