A bike ride down The Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a tranquil journey through the Loess Hills and the heart of southwest Iowa, an area rich in history and scenery.

Like most Rails to Trails projects, the Wabash suits a wide variety of users and is pretty tame, unlike the rigorous Lewis and Clark Monument trail in Council Bluffs or Swanson Park in Bellevue. But a ride need not include water crossings, jumping over logs and adrenaline-pumping downhills to be great for the heart and soul.

Just east of the intersection of Highways 92 and 275 near the Iowa School for the Deaf, the crushed limestone and hard-packed dirt trail begins a 65.9 - mile journey south to Blanchard, Iowa, near the Missouri border.

Trail riders pass through the tiny town of Mineola, then on to Silver City. It continues through Malvern on double - track trail lined with trees to Imogene and past the historic Wabash Depot in Shenandoah. The southern stretch passes through the tiny town of Coin and finally to Blanchard, where Monarch butterflies gather beside the trail to rest during their fall migration south.

Designated a multipurpose trail for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding, this Rails to Trails project, built in 1989, provides area exercise enthusiasts with views not possible from roads and highways, including beautiful, tree-canopied paths, natural prairie grasses and 70 bridges, some spanning dramatic ravines.

The trail was first forged by pioneers and became an important link for those traveling west on the Mormon Trail. In the 1820s it became the Fields Trace trail, a supply route for Fort Atkinson. It served as an important railroad route for more than 100 years.

In 1989 the abandoned line was purchased by the Southwest Iowa Nature Trails Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the trail's natural and cultural history.

Trace travelers routinely encounter wildlife, including deer, wild turkey, pheasant, quail, raccoons, migratory birds and an occasional snake.

If you ride quietly, you might surprise deer. They are beautiful to watch, but be careful during mating season in the fall when bucks are aggressive and less cautious about their surroundings More dangerous are the rabbits and squirrels, which generally scurry into the brush when riders approach but can run directly into your bicycle's path.

Todd Sieler, uses the trail as a training ground for road and mountain bike racing. "It's a nice, easy trail. You can get a good spin going," he said.

But the smooth, level terrain isn't all that Sieler likes. Adjoining the trail beginning at the Council Bluffs trailhead are parallel equestrian paths groomed and smoothed by mountain bike and horse traffic. This five - mile section offers rugged side - chutes guaranteed to give adrenaline rushes within 10 meters of the main trail.

The fat tires of a mountain bike are appropriate for the Wabash, and cautious riders will do fine with hybrid bikes. Hybrids offer comfortable riding position and the generous gear ratio of mountain bikes, but also offer the thinner tires for lower rolling resistance of road bikes.

Curt Schlautman, has ridden the equestrian trails onÊ horseback for years. He started biking to lose weight and to relieve stress. Riding five days a week, he burned off 50 pounds in the last year and a half.

"I have to ride or I'd run out of energy," said Schlautman, who has four part-time jobs. "I am constantly doing something cardiovascular."

For Larry McKern of Council Bluffs, the trail is more than a fun source of exercise; it means business. McKern, owner of the Tastee Treet at 13996 Highway 275, said that about half of his summer business comes from families enjoying the nature trail.

McKern's restaurant at the Bluffs trail head is a popular stop after a ride, but he isn't always there. "I've ridden halfway between Silver City and Malvern, and back."

Tastee Treet is closed between Christmas and Feb. 1.

Planning for a short ride can take a matter of minutes. But riders need to think ahead if they plan to make a day of it or attempt riding the entire length of the trail.

The trail is beautiful but isolated. And while many see the isolation as the payoff, going unprepared makes for a really bad day. Take tools and supplies for fixing flats. Bring supplement bars and lots of water. Toilet paper and a cellular phone would be smart, too. South of Council Bluffs there are few conveniences until you get to Shenandoah. Bug repellent and a small first - aid kit also can come in handy.

Smart bikers wear helmets, sunglasses and gloves.

But it's a good idea to avoid the trail when it's wet.

The trail has good drainage and during the summer can dry out as soon as 30 minutes after a good rain, McKern said.

During the winter the trail can take several days to dry after a snow.

A good way to see the different parts of the trail without riding 65 miles is to load up the bikes and drive to one of the intermediate trailheads. Try starting at Coin and traveling north to Shenandoah.

Jane Repasky, an employee at the Coin Cafe, said the town has a post office, service station and fire station. The cafe is known for its fresh - baked pies and gossip.

The cafe, about a block from the trail, is frequented by bicyclists and area residents. It is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to "whenever," usually 9 or 10 p.m., Repasky said.

The specials on one recent visit were homemade raisin and banana pie, the perfect ending to a bike ride.

The 12 - mile trip from Coin to Shenandoah takes riders to the refurbished Wabash Depot, located right on the trail.

Eldon Kirby owns Kirby Bikes and Carts, the only bicycle shop in Shenandoah. "We fix a lot of flats. People will call me at home to fix their flat. It's a pretty small town," he said.

Kirby, who has owned the shop since 1980, said the growing number of trail riders passing through town has encouraged many local residents to take up biking.

The shop is open from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

At 104 Rye St., the shop is just around the corner from the Deli Depot, where Kirby recommends the Bill's Big Boy sandwich. "It's a big one," he said.

No matter which trailhead you choose, you'll find inspiring views and lots of fun.

Length: 65.9 miles from Council Bluffs to Blanchard, Mo., built in 1989 as part of the Rails to Trails projects. Multipurpose use for bikers, hikers, cross - country skiers and horseback riding (about 5 miles of single - track equestrian trails starting at the Council Bluffs trailhead).

Riding surface: Mix of crushed limestone and hard - packed dirt.

Recommended gear: Mountain bike or hybrid preferable, but some use road bikes. Helmet, spare tubes, patch kit, tire levers and pump, tool kit, water and small first-aid kit.

Trail passes: $10 a year, $1 a day. There's a drop box in the shelters at most of the trailheads or yearly passes can be purchased at local bike shops.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc.