THOR and local volunteers team up on a 2026-2027 project to make the trails safer, easier to find, and more fun to ride

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Riders and hikers at Lewis and Clark Monument Park will see big changes this fall. THOR is launching a focused improvement effort that pairs its paid staff with a group of avid local volunteers. The project aims to improve safety, emergency access, the rider experience, and signage across the park's trail system.

Four Goals

Safety. Right now, many visitors have to ride or walk along the road to reach the trailhead. The project removes that requirement.

Emergency access. Crews will widen and clarify the roughly 2,000-foot route from the top of the hill to the bottom and rebuild it to fit a 48-inch-wide wheeled vehicle. The route currently exists as single-track trail and shortcuts.

Better experiences for every rider and hiker. This includes a realigned descent from the top of the hill into a rebuilt entrance, plus a harder trail section near the bottom called "More Monkeys."

Clearer communication. The kiosk and other signage will be improved and relocated so they are easier to see from the park's primary and secondary access points.

What's Changing

A new trail head. The current entrance sits about 300 feet from the south edge of the parking stalls with no line of sight, so visitors often guess, wander, or end up entering through the trail exit, which creates conflicts between users. The new design uses the existing exit to create a short bi-directional section of trail, with a hub area that repeats entry and exit directions. The new entrance will pass the existing wooden shed and merge back into the existing trail. That short stretch will be a 3-4 foot wide tread, compared with the 12-inch single track used elsewhere. Crews expect 3-4 work days.

A realigned descent. Starting at the new hub, crews will rough-cut the slope with machines and finish it by hand, keeping as many small trees as possible to protect soil and canopy. The expected build rate is about 150 feet per day, plus one day per bermed corner. The final connection point will be set during field speed testing so riders arrive at the next corner and features at a suitable speed. Once the new section is complete, the old entrance will be decommissioned.

An emergency access route. The path to the bottom will be widened for EMS access and egress. Builders will use a side-by-side vehicle with a 70-inch track and extended wheelbase as their check-and-goal vehicle.

More Monkeys upgrades. About a week of focused staff work will include a wooden drop structure at the bottom, built mainly by THOR staff with volunteer help welcome, and a landing built after the EMS path reaches the bottom. The plan includes a ramp and steps on the large final drop so it can be ridden repeatedly while minimizing user conflict. Decking materials will be funded through Grassroots funds, and the team is also exploring trail armor for more than 1,000 feet of the trail.

Better signs. The kiosk will move from near the park entrance gate up to the parking area, where it will be more visible and encourage people to gather on the grassy areas. THOR will provide the kiosk structure, installation, and a new 30" x 40" map. New wayfinding will mark entrances, exits, directionality, shortcuts, and features, using Carsonite posts and UV-resistant stickers consistent with U.S. Forest Service and THOR standards.

Timeline

September 2026: Finalize plans, review the scope with stakeholders, clear the corridor, and complete 811 utility flagging.
October 2026: About three weeks of machine work, with paid staff and volunteers working together.
November 2, 2026: Mechanized equipment demobilizes and punch-list items are finalized. Future phases and volunteer work days will be identified.
November 2026: New steel kiosk installed and signage updated.
February 2027: EMS map and walk-through with the Council Bluffs Fire Department.

Volunteers Welcome

Volunteer opportunities are expected to open after about two weeks of machine work, with local lovers of the trail invited first. After that, workdays will open to the public. Volunteers will help with hand finishing, the step-down wooden lip to dirt landing, and other More Monkeys finishing work. Work will mostly happen on weekends and evenings, led by Lewis & Clark’s Trail Leader, Todd Eyberg with other THOR staff overseeing.

Safety and Care for the Land

The trails will be closed and signed while work is underway. Only paid staff will operate excavators because of insurance restrictions. All volunteers must sign waivers and attend a safety talk at the start of each work day. Soil added during construction will be compacted in 4-inch layers. Before crews leave, old trail sections will be re-naturalized with a tiller and fill soil supplied by city staff. All changes will be documented and shared with the city.

Equipment

The crew will use 2-ton and 4-ton mini excavators, a Canycom tracked buggy, two 16-foot flatbed trailers, a 16-foot enclosed tool trailer, chain saws, and hand tools.

Stay Tuned

Watch THOR's website and social channels for volunteer work day announcements and trail closure updates.

Major Trail Improvements Coming to Lewis and Clark Monument Park This Fall