Strolling along the River
A RiverWay story by Dale Hachtel, volunteer at River Action and one of the directors of the Blackhawk Hiking Club.
One of the objectives of the River Action organization is to promote recreational activities along the Mississippi River. One of the best ways to enjoy our river is to stroll along the river banks on the many trails available in and around the Quad Cities.
The longest trail is the Great River Trail in Illinois, which has a trailhead in Rock Island at Sunset Park, extends along the river through the Quad Cities, and then touches on several smaller towns until its other trailhead in Savanna.
In Iowa, the Riverfront Trail connects the Credit Island area and continues along the river through Davenport and Bettendorf.
Now it is much easier to connect between the Iowa and Illinois trails with the pedestrian and bicycle lane on the new I74 bridge allowing much easier crossing than the narrow sidewalk on the Centennial Bridge or the Government Bridge with its interruptions for river traffic.
Many additional trails connect with or are nearby the river trails.
The Quad Cities area trails offer activities including gongoozling ( which is leisurely watching life on the waterways), strolling, walking, hiking, jogging, running, and in many locations, bicycling.
These area trails offer much more than a place to get exercise. To explore the geology and geography of the area, stop at the informational signs and kiosks along the trails. The cultural history of the Quad Cities area can come alive when reading about the historic events while standing at the site of that event.
Along the Butterworth Parkway section in Moline, learn who surveyed the rapids, and how the river was tamed to allow navigation.
The trails on Arsenal Island provide almost 10 miles of scenic and educational adventure as you access the Lock and Dam visitor center, the Davenport House, The Rock Island Arsenal Museum, and the Memorial Park.
The Quad Cities Area is important in cultural history, with the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi Rivers creating a location for one of the largest Native American settlements. The Rock River and Hennepin Canal also provide more trail options.
Public art along the river, such as “Sunday in the Park” sculptures in Davenport, the Rapids in East Moline, and the Will B. Rolling bicycle statue in Port Byron contribute to the artistic experience along the river.
Be sure to visit cultural and educational centers near the river. Nahant Marsh, the Figge Art Museum, and the John Deere Pavilion, provide education about local history, culture, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The TugFest art in Port Byron also commemorates the annual tug of war competition across the river between Port Byron, Illinois, and LeClaire, Iowa, one of many local celebrations that occur in the Quad Cities area.
You can also connect with others through organizations such as the Blackhawk Hiking Club and the Friends of the Hennepin Canal which promote hiking activity along local trails.
I look forward to seeing you strolling along the river.