Outdoor things to do in Des Moines

For a capital city, Des Moines is remarkably easy to get outside in. There are two huge parks minutes from downtown, a riverfront trail network, and more than 800 miles of paved trails across the metro. Here's where to spend a good-weather day.

The two big parks

• Gray's Lake Park, a couple miles south of downtown at 2101 Fleur Drive, is the city's outdoor living room: a 166-acre lake ringed by a 1.9-mile paved loop with some of the best skyline views in town. The calm water is made for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding, with rentals on site, and there's a beach, a playground, and a sprayground for the kids.
• Right next door, Water Works Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, 1,500 acres of woodlands, open meadows, trails, and the Lauridsen Amphitheater. It's where the city goes to spread out.

Trails for walking and biking

The metro's trail network is the real flex:

• The Meredith Trail runs 5.2 miles from the downtown riverwalk out to Gray's Lake, a perfect car-free connector.
• The Neal Smith Trail and Great Western Trail stretch for miles out of the city for longer rides.
• Walnut Woods State Park offers a quieter, wooded hike on the southwest edge of the metro.
• And the famous one: the High Trestle Trail, whose half-mile-long illuminated bridge over the Des Moines River valley (near Madrid) is one of the most striking sights in Iowa, especially at dusk when the lights come on.

On and by the water

Beyond Gray's Lake, the metro is full of lakes and rivers for paddling, fishing, and boating. Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines has a beach and easy trails, and Jester Park near Granger pairs lakeside recreation with a nature center and bison and elk herds.

When the sun's out, eat outside

Half the appeal of a Des Moines summer is a good patio. When you've earned a drink, our guide to the best patios and rooftops in Des Moines has the spots with the best views and breeze.

Plan your day outside

Most of this is completely free, see free things to do in Des Moines. Got the kids along? Plenty of these double as family outings. For the full picture of the city, start with our complete things-to-do guide, and check the events calendar for outdoor concerts, races, and festivals.