Des Moines rides on the wooded river bluffs threading the metro, with the Center Trails system on the south side the anchor. The terrain is short, punchy and surprisingly steep for central Iowa, cut into loess and glacial till above the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Those soils hold water: a system that is perfect three days after rain can be closed the morning after, which is the swing this tool is built to track.
Right now about 0 of 37 featured Des Moines trails are riding well. Conditions change daily with rain and snowmelt, so the list below shows the live read for each trail, and the chart shows which day ahead is your best bet.
Typical riding conditions by month, blending heat and trail conditions from 10 years of local climate data — so you can plan a trip for the right window.
The best time to ride Des Moines is March and September through November, when daytime highs sit in the 48–77°F range and the dirt is typically dry. The high country is usually snowbound January through February and December. Planning a trip? Those are your safest bets — and for this week, the live forecast below shows exactly which days are riding well (right now 0 of 37 featured trails are good to go).
Bar height = our ride-friendliness score for a typical year; colour = the main limiting factor; the number under each month is the average daytime high. Based on 1991–2020 climate normals (NOAA). This year's live conditions are below.
Named riding areas in Des Moines, each with its own live conditions and the trails inside it.
Every featured singletrack trail, sorted by today's real conditions, best first. Refreshed every morning.
Few Des Moines trails are riding well today. The list below is sorted by today's real conditions, best first, and refreshes every morning, so check back soon or open the planner for the best option near you. See live conditions →
It depends on recent rain and each trail's soil. The 10-day outlook on this page shows how many Des Moines trails are expected to be riding well each day, with rain markers, so you can pick the right day instead of guessing. See the 10-day outlook →
Right now 37 of 37 featured Des Moines trails are reading soft or too muddy to ride. Des Moines is mostly loam soil, which drains at a moderate pace, so after a storm some trails firm up within a day while others stay greasy. Riding wet, soft dirt damages trails and leaves ruts, so check the live mud reading on each trail before you head out. Check the live mud reading →
Des Moines has 49 featured mountain bike trails tracked here for conditions, with more searchable on the live map.
Des Moines trails run from about 784–978 ft. Higher trails hold snow later into spring and dry out later than the lower ones, so conditions can vary a lot across the same area on the same day.
The best time to ride Des Moines is March and September through November, when daytime highs are in the 48–77°F range and the trails are typically dry. The high country is usually snowbound January through February and December. This is based on 10 years of local climate data; check the live conditions on this page for how the trails are actually riding today.
The main riding season in Des Moines is roughly March through November; the high trails are usually snowbound January through February and December and melt out through spring. This page tracks snow coverage and melt-out daily so you can time the high country.
See all Iowa trail conditions →
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