Entry No. 28 — the Des Moines file — filed under: glowing bridge
High Trestle Trail Bridge
“making the crossing feel like stepping into another world”
A soaring half-mile former railroad trestle bridge 13 stories above the Des Moines River, wrapped in 43 twisting steel frames meant to evoke descending into a coal mine shaft — after dark, 23 of those frames glow with electric blue LED light, making the crossing feel like stepping into another world. The trail is open 24/7 and free to access, with blue lights running nightly from dusk until midnight (April–October) or 9 p.m. (November–March).
The move: Park at the Madrid trailhead, rent or bring bikes, and ride the 2.6-mile trail to the bridge at dusk — time your arrival for just after sunset when the blue steel ribs flicker on. Walk or pedal slowly across the half-mile span, pausing midway to look down at the river 13 stories below while the frames glow around you. Pack a blanket and a thermos, linger on the bridge as full dark settles in, then ride back under the stars.
📍 Before you go The bridge isn't at a parking lot — you reach it on foot or by bike from a trailhead. The small gravel lot on QF Lane, just off Highway 210 west of Madrid (watch for the trail-access sign), is the closest in: a flat, paved walk of about a mile each way. Grant's Woods Park is a similar distance, and the main Johnson Family/Dalander Park trailhead in Madrid proper is roughly 2.5 miles out. Crucial catch: only the span itself is lit — the trail to and from it is dark, so bring a bike light or headlamp for an after-dark visit. You're 13 stories up over a river valley, so it runs windier and cooler than ground level; pack a layer even in summer. Madrid's small downtown is the natural spot for a post-ride bite. Fall foliage makes a daytime crossing worthwhile too.
- 📍 Madrid
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2335 Qf Ln, Madrid, IA 50156 (High Trestle Trail between Madrid and Woodward)
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
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Further reading: madridiowa.org · traveliowa.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-07