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 story
You are standing in the middle of Iowa farm country, but thirteen stories above the Des Moines River, the earth drops away into a half-mile abyss. This isn't a highway overpass or a standard rail-trail crossing—it's a decommissioned railway trestle transformed into a massive piece of walk-through land art. Forty-three angular steel frames tilt and twist down the length of the 2,530-foot span, angled deliberately to mirror the disorienting feeling of descending into a coal mine shaft.
The real shift happens after the sun drops below the tree line. Twenty-three of those giant steel ribs ignite with piercing blue LED light, turning a rural trail into something that feels unnervingly alien. Inside the glowing geometric tunnel, the dark river valley 130 feet below disappears, leaving you suspended in a glowing corridor over the water.
What it's like
You can't drive directly up to the bridge deck. The quickest approach is the small gravel lot on QF Lane just off Highway 210, which leaves you with a flat, paved one-mile walk to the bridge. If you're biking, start in downtown Madrid for a 2.5-mile ride to the river span. Expect noticeable wind and a drop in temperature once you walk out over the open gorge—pack an extra layer even on warm summer evenings. The crucial catch: while the bridge itself glows brightly, the access trail leading back to your vehicle is completely unlit, so carry a flashlight or mount a bright light on your handlebars.
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.
Pair it with
- Kate Shelley High Bridge — Pair one massive Des Moines River Valley bridge with another by heading 15 minutes north to gaze at Boone County's historic 185-foot-tall rail viaduct.
- Paradox Antiques, Art, & Oddities — Trade futuristic glowing steel for Victorian curiosities and taxidermy at this strange shop in nearby Boone.
- Boone County Historical Society (former Masonic Temple) — Follow up outdoor land art with local lore inside a 1907 Masonic temple housing county history and rumors of a resident ghost.
- Cellar 626 — After your night walk, head east to Ames and push through a walk-in liquor store cooler into a hidden speakeasy.
Good to know
When do the blue lights turn on?
The LED lights turn on nightly at dusk. They stay lit until midnight from April through October, and shut off at 9:00 p.m. from November through March.
How far is the closest parking lot from the bridge?
The closest access point is the gravel lot at 2335 QF Lane, roughly a one-mile walk each way. Parking in downtown Madrid puts you about 2.5 miles away.
Is the bridge free to visit?
Yes, access to the High Trestle Trail and the bridge is completely free and open 24/7.
What should I bring for a night visit?
Pack a jacket or windbreaker (it gets windy 13 stories up) and a headlamp or bike light for the dark trail walk back to your car.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: madridiowa.org · traveliowa.com · Tripadvisor · inhf.org · mycountyparks.com
last checked: 2026-06-07