5 ways to break a sweat in Iowa this summer riding the rails, a bike, a river and more
Iowa can get hot and muggy in the summer, but that doesn't mean the workouts should stop. Iowans can travel the state and still find great ways to break out in a sweat. Take a tour across the state from west to east on RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa, for the 50th anniversary of the ride. Play 18 holes of golf across the state. Climb the highest observation tower in the Midwest. Paddle down a western Iowa river. Or head to Boone to pedal down a railroad track.
Here, five ways to break a sweat in Iowa this summer.
RAGBRAI
See the beauty of Iowa from your bicycle during the 50th RAGBRAI. Starting in Sioux City on July 22 and ending in Davenport on July 29, this year’s route is 500 miles. Carroll, Des Moines and Coralville are just a few of the overnight towns. Concerts along the ride include the Pork Tornadoes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Spin Doctors, Hairball, Foghat and Bush.
Learn more: ragbrai.com
More: Fill your summer with 113 things to do in Iowa, from Hawkeye point to 'American Gothic'
Take a swing
Break out your golf clubs and take a swing at one of Iowa’s more than 440 public golf courses. Some of the state’s best include Spirit Hollow in Burlington, which was built on a 400-acre cattle ranch; Blue Top Ridge designed by famed architect Rees Jones in Riverside at the Riverside Resort & Casino; The Preserve on Rathbun Lake in Moravia; or The Falls Golf Course in Larchwood, also designed by Jones with a 30-foot waterfall that feeds into a lake.
More: 5 Iowa day trips to take in summer 2023 from Winterset and the Amanas to Jewell and more
Ride the rails
Use pedal power(with an electric assist motor) and ride the rails in Boone on a tour with Rail Explorers. Take the Scenic Valley Trail and cross the Bass Creek High Trestle and Des Moines River Bridge. Book a sunset ride or lantern tour to see the Iowa landscape in a different light.
Learn more: railexplorers.net
More: 5 ways to celebrate the great outdoors in Iowa the summer, from nature walks to lakes
Cordova Park Observation Tower, Otley
Get a workout by climbing the 169 steps of Cordova Tower. You’ll be rewarded with views of Lake Red Rock and the Des Moines River Valley. It’s the tallest observation tower in the Midwest at 106 feet tall. Admission is 50 cents (bring quarters) and the tower is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Learn more: mycountyparks.com
More: 5 Iowa day trips to take in summer 2023 from Winterset and the Amanas to Jewell and more
West Nishnabotna River Water Trail
Paddle your way down this 26.8-mile water trail in Western Iowa. Trees line the river and are home to a variety of Iowa wildlife — bring your binoculars to help you spot animals along the way. The five access points to the trail are located in Avoca, Hancock, Oakland, Carson and Macedonia.
Learn more: traveliowa.com
More: 5 ways to learn more about Iowa this summer, from farm equipment to military history
Heather Torpy is a freelance writer based in Des Moines.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The best ways to break a sweat exercising this summer in Iowa
