Cherokee Trail System

05/28/2026

Magnetic Park is a project that has received REAP funding and will be showcased at this event!

Are you interested in improving natural and cultural resources for the direct benefit of Cherokee County?  Please join us on June 7th  to share ideas for how Iowa’s premier funding program for outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation can assist your county and communities.

05/11/2026

Important messages left by students on our Trail system in recognition of work of Cherokee County Su***de Prevention Coalition during their "Chalk the Walk".

03/05/2026

Message from DAR:
This year our DAR Pilot Rock Chapter will be giving our Historical Preservation Award to the Trails Committee of Cherokee.
Trail Committee members are Jason and Miranda Cook, Laura Jones, Michael Noltner and Katie Carnes, Dan and Barb Mott, Deb Hankens, Ron Oman, Connie Ladwig, and Kerisa Pingel.

Jason Cook has been the leader of the Trails Committee and was responsible for much of the grant writing. They also received a lot of private donations for the creation of the trails and historic signage.
Laura Kohn Jones designed and created the 12 historical signs on the trail system with help from Archives staff, John Snapp and Barb Busch-Mott (Archives history and old photos). The Cherokee Area Archives helped to fund the signs, along with other private donors.

The Cherokee Trails Committee led a community-driven effort to place 12 historical markers along the Magnetic Park walking trail, each sited near the events or places they describe to make local history accessible to walkers and visitors.

The Trails Committee coordinated planning, fundraising, and installation of interpretive signage as part of the broader Cherokee Trail System and Magnetic Park development. The committee worked with local historians, preservation groups, and the city to ensure the trail would both connect neighborhoods and serve as an outdoor classroom for Cherokee's past. The project is framed as part of a county-wide effort to make local history visible and walkable for residents and visitors alike.

The trail features 12 historic signs placed at strategic points along the walking route. Each marker is intentionally located near the physical sites or event locations it describes so readers can connect text to place. The markers use concise narratives and images to make history approachable for families, school groups, and casual trail users. The Committee prioritized accuracy and accessibility, collaborating with the Cherokee Historic Preservation group to research content and to produce a downloadable PDF of the signs for educators and visitors. The trail map and marker descriptions are available online so people can plan visits and follow a self-guided history walk.

The trail and markers have strengthened local identity by making Cherokee's layered history visible in everyday public space and by encouraging outdoor activity tied to learning.

This is why our Pilot Rock Chapter chose the Cherokee Trails Committee for this year's Historical Preservation Award. Thank-you!

02/17/2026

🚨 Iowa Cycling Just Went National 🚨

When we published our coverage on HSB 637, we knew it was serious. We didn’t expect it to gain national attention.

Now both Global Cycling Network and Cycling Weekly have highlighted the bill - with GCN even referencing BIKEIOWA directly in their video coverage.

The bill was withdrawn shortly after introduction, but it raised an important question:

How closely are we paying attention to legislation that affects where and how we ride?

Whether you ride road, gravel, trail, commute, or RAGBRAI - policy matters.

👉 Read the full News post here: https://www.bikeiowa.com/News/11206/national-spotlight-on-iowas-hsb-637-why-this-bill-matters

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Iowa cycling is worth it. 🚲💛

02/11/2026

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/the-most-anti-biking-bill-in-history-iowas-near-total-bike-ban-proposal-is-bizarre-and-alarming

Advocates say the bill, framed as a safety measure, would "functionally and explicitly ban biking on most of Iowa’s roadways"

12/07/2025

Take walk on our Cherokee trails this winter.

11/24/2025

We are always grateful for our beautiful trail system. Hope you were able to enjoy the Fall colors the last couple of years! Take a walk on the trail this Thanksgiving as there is always something different to see.

11/05/2025

We are very thankful for the tree donations (6 red maple, 4 aspen and 2 evergreens) to the new skate park by Dave Wilberding&family along with many memorial donations in memory of Cindy Wilberding. Joyce's Greenery did a fantastic job planting and staking the 12 trees. Plans are for volunteers to water the trees over the next 4 weeks and hope for early spring rains next year.

11/04/2025

Many thanks to our local Cherokee citizens who volunteered their time, chainsaws, heavy equipment, tractors and trailers last week at the skatepark. Fourteen dead ash trees cut down and removed from the park area. Steve Thomas, Chuck Stubbe and Tim Perrin donated their heavy equipment for use on this project. The volunteers included John Snapp, Dan Mott, Steve and Lori Thomas, James and Patrick Loughlin, Tim Perrin, Chuck Stubbe and Denny Holton. The city crew handled the stump grinding. A Big Thank-you to everyone involved in this much needed improvement at the Cherokee Skate Park and Trail system.

10/20/2025

🎃👟 The Halloween Hustle 5K is THIS SATURDAY! 👟🎃

We’re counting down the days and can't wait to see everyone hit the course in their spookiest, silliest, and most creative costumes! 🧛‍♀️🧟‍♂️👻 Whether you’re running, walking, or just showing up to cheer, it’s going to be a frightfully fun time for all.

Costume contest with awesome prizes! 🎁

Tag your race crew and get ready to hustle! 🏃‍♀️💨