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Saylorville Dam – Neal Smith Trail loop from Sycamore Wildlife Area

Saylorville Dam – Neal Smith Trail loop from Sycamore Wildlife Area

Moderate

4.9

(9334)

9,335

riders

Saylorville Dam – Neal Smith Trail loop from Sycamore Wildlife Area

03:33

44.7km

300m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 19, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

9.18 km

Saylorville Dam

Highlight • Monument

Pause your ride at Saylorville Dam for scenic views. This dam on the Des Moines River in Iowa is only 11 miles upstream from Des Moines, offering a great place to hop off your bike and take a break!

Tip by

22.2 km

Neal Smith Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The 26-mile Neal Smith Trail rolls along the banks of the Des Moines River through the Ding Darling Greenway conservation area and weaves its way through a variety of landscapes, …

Tip by

25.3 km

Big Creek Barrier Dam and views of Saylorville Lake

Highlight • Monument

Great views of the lake from the Neal Smith Trail as it passes over the Big Creek Barrier Dam. The dam was constructed to protect Polk City from flooding from Saylorville Lake.

Tip by

35.4 km

Saylorville Lake Visitor Center

Highlight • Rest Area

The Saylorville Lake Visitor Center is located at the southeast corner of the lake and offers a variety of scheduled events, a theater, several interactive displays, and a selection of maps. A butterfly garden is also a short walk away.

Tip by

44.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

30.6 km

8.73 km

5.40 km

Surfaces

37.4 km

5.29 km

2.06 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (290 m)

Lowest point (240 m)

Weather

Today

Sunday 17 May

28°C

16°C

18 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Saylorville Dam – Neal Smith Trail loop from Sycamore Wildlife Area

Saylorville Dam

Neal Smith Trail

Big Creek Barrier Dam and views of Saylorville Lake

Saylorville Lake Visitor Center

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