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      Sycamore Trails are fast, flowing singletrack that weaves through old growth forest along the west side of the Des Moines River. The trails are generally easy riding and many adults and children frequent the trails. It is open to walkers, joggers, runners and dogs on leashes - so be considerate of these other trail users.
      Parking google parking directions
      Links

      Trail info last updated

      Activities Click to view
      Region Details
      • 3
      • 2
      • 7
      • 9

      Region Status
      Open as of Aug 16, 2025
      Local Trail Association

      Stats

      Avg Trail Rating
      Trails (view details)
      21
      Trails Mountain Bike
      21
      Trails E-Bike
      1
      Trails Gravel Bike
      5
      Trails Adaptive Bike
      3
      Trails Hike
      21
      Trails Trail Running
      21
      Total Distance
      15 miles
      Total Descent
      426 ft
      Total Vertical
      133 ft
      Highest Trailhead
      931 ft
      Reports
      105
      Photos
      8
      Completed Counter
      1,688

      Popular Sycamore Mountain Biking Trails

      95 4.0 1 mile 43 ft 168
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 4 minutes to complete this trail.
      85 0.0 1 mile 2 ft 143
      Popular green difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 8 minutes to complete this trail.
      95 0.0 1,605 ft 78 ft 138
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 2 minutes to complete this trail.
      80 0.0 2,556 ft 16 ft 119
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 3 minutes to complete this trail.
      95 0.0 983 ft 30 ft 115
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 1 minutes to complete this trail.
      70 0.0 4 miles 30 ft 108
      Popular green difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 15 minutes to complete this trail.
      90 4.0 3,232 ft 10 ft 103
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 3 minutes to complete this trail.
      55 0.0 1 mile 14 ft 101
      Moderately popular green difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 6 minutes to complete this trail.

      Recent Ride Log Activity in Region

      Today
      • 0 rides
      Yesterday
      • 0 rides
      Past Week
      • 1 rides

      Photos of Sycamore Mountain Bike

      mtb
      61 |
      Jul 28, 2024 @ 10:29am
      Jul 28, 2024
      mtb
      115 |
      Dec 2, 2021 @ 9:08am
      Dec 2, 2021
      mtb
      104 |
      Dec 2, 2021 @ 9:01am
      Dec 2, 2021
      mtb
      101 |
      Dec 2, 2021 @ 8:56am
      Dec 2, 2021
      mtb
      134 |
      Oct 3, 2020 @ 6:27pm
      Oct 3, 2020
      report
      mtb
      53 |
      Oct 15, 2024 @ 12:55pm
      Oct 15, 2024
      report
      mtb
      54 |
      Aug 17, 2024 @ 11:20am
      Aug 17, 2024
      report
      mtb
      57 |
      Jul 27, 2024 @ 7:54am
      Jul 27, 2024

      Videos of Sycamore Mountain Bike

      New Low Life Trail | Sycamore North | Johnston...
      mtb
      2:59 | 234 | Jul 18, 2021 , Des Moines
      Sycamore North Mountain Bike Trail | Johnston Iowa
      mtb
      10:02 | 317 | Jul 18, 2021 , Des Moines
      Sycamore North Mountain Bike Trail | Johnston Iowa
      mtb

      10:02 | 198 | Nov 3, 2020
      Sycamore Mountain Bike Trail, Des Moines Iowa
      mtb

      4:29 | 295 | Aug 25, 2020

      Recent Trail Reports

      Activity Feed

      usernameactiontypetitledate
      cdev1693riddentrailactivity #99285723 and 10 more
      Jul 15, 2026 @ 9:31pm
      Jul 15, 2026
      Rdwotenwishlistregionactivity #94663556
      May 13, 2026 @ 6:48pm
      May 13, 2026
      MarcusJ3AD09addreportactivity #78257640 and 1 more
      Aug 16, 2025 @ 9:18am
      Aug 16, 2025
      Oldway21wishlisttrailactivity #72726374 and 1 more
      May 30, 2025 @ 2:01pm
      May 30, 2025
      JCub18addreportactivity #69263783 and 3 more
      Apr 8, 2025 @ 5:33pm
      Apr 8, 2025

      Recent Comments

      usernametypetitlecommentdate
      fatbottomgirltrailLow Life LoopThese are good trails. The trail builders made...
      Oct 13, 2023 @ 6:28pm
      Oct 13, 2023
      MilesharbertreportTop Shelf - NorthVary nice and prime
      Oct 11, 2020 @ 3:22pm
      Oct 11, 2020

      Nearby Areas

      namedistance
      Sycamore South 4 12.4 km
      Center Trails 11 96.8 km
      Fourmile MTB Park 6 5 18.3 km
      Southwoods Park 1 28.3 km
      Ewing Park 7 4 210.2 km

      Activity Type Stats

      activitytypetrailsdistancedescentdescent distancetotal verticalratingglobal rankstate rankphotosreportsroutesactivity logs
      Mountain Bike2115 miles427 ft3 miles135 ft
      #8,644#3,35081052,239
      E-Bike1643 ft7 ft
      8530
      Gravel Bike55 miles138 ft4,764 ft128 ft
      #8,511#3,57626
      Adaptive Bike31 mile115 ft2,520 ft69 ft
      #8,500#3,563
      Hike2115 miles427 ft3 miles135 ft
      #10,981#4,29810558
      Trail Running2115 miles427 ft3 miles135 ft
      #10,275#3,73710564

      Frequently Asked Questions

      What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Sycamore?
      The highest rated mountain biking trails in Sycamore are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by rating.
      Where can I park to ride in Sycamore?
      There are 1 parking locations listed in Sycamore. The most popular parking spots are:
      What is the longest trail in Sycamore?
      The longest trail in Sycamore is Sycamore Trail at 3.6 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
      What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Sycamore?
      What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Sycamore?
      How many trails are in Sycamore?
      Sycamore has a total of 21 trails. Browse top mountain biking trails in Sycamore to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
      Which trail has the most elevation gain in Sycamore?
      The trail with the most elevation gain in Sycamore is Beaver Creek Greenbelt with 96 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
      Which trail has the most elevation descent in Sycamore?
      The trail with the most elevation descent in Sycamore is Pump with 76 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
      What activities are most popular in Sycamore?
      Sycamore supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Trail Running.
      What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Sycamore?
      The steepest mountain biking trail in Sycamore is High Life Access with an average grade of 11.9%. View all trails sorted by grade.
      Are the trails open in Sycamore?
      The overall region status for Sycamore is Clear / Green. Out of 15 trails:
      • Clear / Green: 15
      View the full trail status page for the latest updates.
      Can I ride an ebike in Sycamore?
      There are 1 trails in Sycamore that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
      What are the most popular Strava Segments in Sycamore?
      The most popular Strava segments in Sycamore are:
      • COVID Cut (1,528 athletes)
      • S-N North Lot West Trail (1,442 athletes)
      • North Lot West Trail (1,402 athletes)
      View all Strava segments in Sycamore.
      What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Sycamore?
      What are the best beginner ride trails in Sycamore?
      The best beginner mountain biking trails in Sycamore are: View all beginner mountain biking trails in Sycamore.
      • By brenthillierTF Pro NSMBA TRAILFORKS & contributors
      • Admins: CITA
      • #16907 - 3,546 views

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