[Kohlsdorf] While nature deserves credit for the beauty of southwest Iowa's Loess Hills, dedicated volunteers deserve credit for creating immersive ways to enjoy them.

♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] The Wabash Trace Nature Trail rests on the bed of a converted railroad stretching from Shenandoah to Council Bluffs.

[Eric Dunlop] Yeah, I mean, it's a great trail.

It goes 62 miles from Council Bluffs down to the border.

It's a lot of trees, a lot of farmland, a lot of bridges and different things.

But once you're on it, you're kind of out in the middle of nowhere and so it's great.

[Kohlsdorf] Bikers and hikers use the trail to explore the countryside of four counties and to patronize local stores and eateries in the communities along the route.

♪♪ [Eric Dunlop] Minneola has been busy the whole time.

Silver City definitely they get a lot more, it's kind of hit and miss, things open and close.

Shenandoah for sure.

Imogene has got a place too.

And so yeah, it definitely helps.

♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] Tobey Jack's Minneola Steakhouse is known as a must stop on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

[William Good] We purchased it in 2010, had it for the last 15 years.

We bought it because of the bike ride.

We ride bikes a lot and we've rode bikes down here and we saw how popular it was and how much fun it was to be around.

[Kohlsdorf] Small town business owners credit the trail riders for being a thread weaving economic vitality into rail side communities.

[William Good] It feeds a lot of small towns.

If it wasn't for the Wabash Trace, a lot of small towns wouldn't make it along the trail.

So, it's an asset, it's well advertised, people know about it.

The taco rides on Thursdays all summer long, it's one of the best rides out there.

[Kohlsdorf] In Imogene, trailside camping spots provide easy overnight stops with showers.

An interactive sculpture located at the trail head, invites users to learn more about Imogene's Irish heritage.

[William Good] You can come out, you can camp, you can ride the trail, you can go north, south, whatever way you want to go and hit small towns along the way.

[Kohlsdorf] Whether it's local history or local eateries, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail welcomes Loess Hills Scenic Byway travelers to explore southwest Iowa.