The Wapsi-Great Western Line (WGWL) Trail is an 18.5 mile paved hiking and biking trail located in northern Iowa. The majority of the trail runs on abandoned railroad beds and winds through rural countryside. Less than one mile is on shared roadway. You will traverse through five biospheres: prairie, wetland, farmland, marsh and woodlands. You will cross three waterways: Wapsipinicon River, Watson’s Creek, and Lake Hendricks. You may encounter white tail deer, muskrat, otter, turkey, pheasant and numerous native species.
“Modest places, rarely spectacular, but lending a measure of freedom and wilderness to landscapes that are part of our Midwest . . . some of the best escape routes from the soul-bruising press of modern living.” – John Madson, Author of Where the Sky Began”
EVENTS CALENDAR (click on any of the events below for more details)
Ongoing Events
Trailhead Welcome Center Open – Saturday & Sunday from 2-5 p.m. Memorial Day – Labor Day
Pie Sunday at Trailhead Welcome Center – 1st Sunday of June, July, and September from 2-5 p.m
Farmer’s Market - Saturdays May 25th – September 14th from 9:00-11:30 a.m.* Located at 203 West Main Street, Riceville, IA (one block from the WGWL Trailhead) *Time change for Wapsipinicon Day (Saturday, August 3rd), market will run 8:00-10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Summer Art Show Featuring Best-in-Show Iowan Dolores Buchheit - Memorial Day – Labor Day
Community Walks – 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of May, June, July and August at 7:00 p.m. Default starting location is the Trailhead, but subject to change to other points on the trail. Call Shary at 641-985-2329 to confirm meeting point.
Special Events
Saturday, April 6th – Trail Work Day
Saturday, May 11th – County Line Fun Run/Walk (a Relay for Life Cancer Benefit) Registration 9-10 a.m. Run/Walk at 10 a.m. To download a registration form, click CountyLine_2013Registration
Sunday, June 2nd – Golf Cart Day Public is welcome, but reservations are recommended and registration required
Saturday, June 8th – Fishing Clinic at Lake Henderick (sponsored by HCCB) Brownie ice cream sundaes at the Trailhead Welcome Center
Saturday, June 8th – Cultural Event: Ulysses S. Grant Drama Presentation by Pete Grady Tickets go on sale Memorial Day Weekend at the Trailhead Welcome Center. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 15th – The BBB Adventure: Bike to Bailey and Back! To download a registration form, click BBB Adventure 2013 Registration
Saturday, June 22nd – BRAM: Bike Ride Around Mitchell County Commences in Osage and uses the WGWL Trail for the middle portion of the ride
Saturday, July 14th – Butterfly Garden Party Reservations required
Saturday, July 20th – Elma 5K Run Commences on the southern portion of the WGWL Trail by Lila’s Marsh and finishes on Elma’s Old Roundhouse Trail segment
Saturday, July 25th – Food Preservation 101 by Cindy Baumgartener of ISU Extension Presentation from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Trailhead Welcome Center
Saturday, August 3rd – Wapsipinicon Festival Activities: All activities are located at the Trailhead
5-6 p.m. Friday, August 2nd – 5K Pre-registration Pick-up
7:00 a.m. Saturday, August 3rd – 5K Registration To download a registration form, click Wapsi 5k 2013 Registration.
8:00 a.m. – 5K Race
7:00-10:00 a.m. – Community Pancake Breakfast (open to the public, not just racers)
9:00 a.m. – Kid Fun Run
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – Silent Auction (a WGWL Trail Benefit)
2:00 p.m. – Community Sing
7:00 p.m. – Cultural Event: The Liberty Belles by Stebens Children’s Theatre. Tickets go on sale Memorial Day weekend at the Trailhead Welcome Center.
For additional Wapsipinicon Day Events click here.
Friday, August 8th – Riceville Area Economic Development Breakfast at the Butterfly Garden
Wednesday, August 14th – Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center Golf Cart Day Closed to the public
Sunday, September 8th – Golf Cart Day Public is welcome, but reservations are recommended and registration required
Saturday, September 21st – Harvest Moon Walk at dusk
Sunday, November 10th – Annual Trail Committee Meeting
Thursday, December 12th – Christmas Tea at Noon and Twilight (5:30 p.m.). Reservations required.
Friday, December 13th – Christmas Tea by Candlelight (6:30 p.m.). Reservations required.