The Sauk Rail Trail near Lake View is back open after being closed for months while a section near wetlands was repaved. The project’s completion marks the end of what had been a lengthy back-and-forth between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Sac County Conservation, the Sauk Rail Trail Association, and local recreationalists. The 0.7-mile stretch had started to crack and buckle due to the nearby wetlands, but the DNR had been hesitant to repave the segment completely. Instead, state officials had initially proposed using crushed limestone, as it would have been less susceptible to ground fluctuations in the wetlands. Proponents for the paving had argued against such a move, as the gravel would have made the section difficult, if not impassable, for the thin tires that many road bikes use. However, the long campaign to change the DNR’s position was successful, and the 33-mile trail remains paved throughout its entire length.
