How far is the house from Rail Explorers in Boone?

About a 20-minute drive from the A-frame in north Ames to the Rail Explorers depot on 10th Street in Boone.

How long is the railbike ride?

The Scenic Valley Trail is roughly 12.5 miles round trip and takes about two hours, including a stop partway out along the Des Moines River.

The railbikes have an electric assist, so it's closer to a casual bike ride than a workout. You do keep pedaling for most of the two hours.

What is the high trestle?

The Bass Point Creek High Trestle, 156 feet tall and 750 feet long, with open views over the Des Moines River valley. It's the high point of the route in both senses.

Do we need to book the railbikes in advance?

Yes. Departures are limited and warm-weather weekends fill up, so reserve through Rail Explorers before you plan the rest of the day.

Railbikes in Boone

Riding the Boone Rail Explorers, and where to stay after

Rail Explorers put pedal-powered railbikes on the Boone & Scenic Valley line, so you get the high trestle and the river valley from the track itself instead of through a train window. Two hours of legs and scenery, and the A-frame is twenty minutes away when you're done.

What the ride actually is

A railbike looks a bit like a steel go-kart that sits on the rails. You pedal, an electric assist takes the edge off, and the bike stays on the track the whole time, so nobody has to steer. There are tandem bikes for two riders and quads that seat up to four, which covers most families and friend groups.

The Scenic Valley Trail runs about 12.5 miles round trip and takes roughly two hours, with a stop partway out on the banks of the Des Moines River. There are fire pits at the turnaround, and people bring marshmallows.

The part everyone talks about afterward is the Bass Point Creek High Trestle: 156 feet up and 750 feet long, with the valley opening out on both sides. You cross it slowly enough to get a long look. Depending on how you feel about heights, that's either the appeal or the problem.

Planning the ride

Rail Explorers publishes departure times and prices by season, so book through them directly. A few things to know first:

Reserve ahead
Departures are limited and summer weekends go early. Groups of up to twenty can book online, with a discount for parties of ten or more.
Daytime, sunset, and lantern tours
The daylight ride is the straightforward one. Sunset and lantern tours leave later and come back in the dark with lanterns on the bikes. Pick one of those if you've already done the standard trip.
The depot is on 10th Street
Rail Explorers operates out of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad property in Boone, about 20 minutes from the house.
Dress for two hours outside
You're out in the open the whole ride and the pedaling is light, so you don't generate much heat. Bring a jacket in spring and fall, and sunscreen in July.

The upper balcony deck under the green A-frame eaves, with rattan chairs, a hanging flower basket, and a cable railing looking into the trees.

A children's loft under the A-frame peak with a gray modular play couch, braided rugs, and a retro arcade cabinet by a glass-block window.

The railroad next door

The railbikes share a line and a depot with the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, which has run excursions in the valley for years. Its Fraser train follows the same route out to an old coal-mining town and crosses both the Bass Point Creek bridge and the Des Moines River bridge. Steam pulls it on select Saturdays; diesel handles the other running days.

There's a museum on the property too, one of the few anywhere that keeps steam, diesel, and electric equipment in the same collection. If somebody in your group cares about trains, an afternoon there isn't hard to fill.

The house at the end of the day

About 20 minutes away
Boone is a short drive west of Ames, so you're back at the house before your legs stiffen up.
Sleeps six
Three king bedrooms plus a sofa bed in the loft. That lines up with a quad railbike and a couple of extra people.
A hot tub for tired legs
Two hours of pedaling is more work than it sounds like. The tub sits on the deck with a clear view up through the trees.
An acre to run around on
Wooded grounds, long decks, and a covered patio, so kids who are done sitting still have somewhere to go.
Late arrivals are fine
If you take a lantern tour and get back after dark, self check-in with a smart lock means there's nobody to meet.

Common questions

How far is the house from Rail Explorers in Boone?: About a 20-minute drive from the A-frame in north Ames to the Rail Explorers depot on 10th Street in Boone.
How long is the railbike ride?: The Scenic Valley Trail is roughly 12.5 miles round trip and takes about two hours, including a stop partway out along the Des Moines River.
Is it hard to pedal?: The railbikes have an electric assist, so it's closer to a casual bike ride than a workout. You do keep pedaling for most of the two hours.
What is the high trestle?: The Bass Point Creek High Trestle, 156 feet tall and 750 feet long, with open views over the Des Moines River valley. It's the high point of the route in both senses.
Do we need to book the railbikes in advance?: Yes. Departures are limited and warm-weather weekends fill up, so reserve through Rail Explorers before you plan the rest of the day.

Ride the rails, then come back to the trees

Book the railbikes for the morning and the A-frame for the night. Check the dates and reserve the house.

See the full house