Iola Trail Guide - Bike Prairie Spirit Trail

Iola Trailhead Sign Iola is the second-largest community along the Prairie Spirit Trail (population 5704 as of 2010), and is the county seat of Allen County. As such, it has many services, amenities, and points of interest for travelers.

Iola has one official trailhead, at Cofachique Park, near the intersection with State Street (old Highway 169) at Mile Marker 108.6. When the Prairie Spirit Trail first opened in Iola in 2008, Cofachique Park was the “end of the line”, but the city extend the trail another mile-plus, to Riverside Park (mile marker 109.7). Volunteers with Thrive Allen County then created the Southwind Rail Trail heading south from Iola to Humboldt, another 6.5 miles. The Southwind opened in 2013. Riverside Park serves as a second defacto trailhead.

Iola is in the process of building a new trail, the Mo-Pac Recreational Trail, that will follow the old Missouri Pacific Railroad right-of-way east into town. The Mo-Pac Trail will connect to the Prairie Spirit Trail at about mile marker 109.

In 2014, Iola added sharrows on some of their streets as an aid in guiding trail users downtown. The sharrows run along Washington Avenue, and connect to the Prairie Spirit Trail at West Street and Riverside Drive.

Directions North and South From Iola

North: Carlyle (4.3 miles)

Heading north from Iola, the trail transitions from the city’s paved surface to crushed limestone at the city limit. The ride north features some nice farms on either side of the trail which can be spotted through the trees. Most notable along this stretch is a long bridge over two intersecting roads and a stream. The roads are made to be easily floodable during a heavy rain. Within Iola, the trail is free to use and paved. North of Iola’s city limit, the surface is crushed limestone, and requires a permit.

South: Bassett (1.0 miles)

Although the stretch from Iola to Humboldt is part of the same contiguous trail, the name changes from the Prairie Spirit Trail to the Southwind Rail Trail. The Southwind was built by volunteers with Thrive Allen County. The distance between Iola and Bassett is very short, but this segment features the most impressive bridge along the entire corridor, the magnificent Elm Creek Bridge. The Southwind Rail Trail is free to use, requiring no permit.

Services along the Prairie Spirit Trail in Iola

Photo	Service, Address, Phone	Services
	Allen County Historical Society 20 South Washington Avenue, Iola, KS 66749
	America's Best Value Inn 1315 North State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	Around the Corner Coffee and Eatery 110 S Jefferson Ave, Iola, KS 66749
	B & B Country Cafe 324 West Garfield Street, Iola, KS 66749
	Bolling's Meat Market & Deli 201 South State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	China Palace 110 North State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	Dairy Queen Iola 323 S State St, Iola, KS 66749
	El Jimador Iola 902 North State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	General Funston Boyhood Home 14 South Washington, Iola, KS 66749
	Iola RV Park & Storage 1327 US Highway 54, Iola, KS 66749
	Iola Trailhead 1310 North State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	King's Sandwich Shop 321 South State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	Old Jail Museum 203 North Jefferson, Iola, KS 66749
	Renee's Bakery 2 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
	Riverside Park 600 S State St, Iola, KS 66749
	Sam & Louie's 2150 N State Street, Iola, KS 66749
	The Greenery 1315 North State Street, Iola, KS 66749