Dragoon Trail
HP Community Action Association
In 1835. The Dragoons left Fort Des Moines #1 in 1835 to map the territory they (actually, Albert Lee) named Iowa. They went into Minnesota and returned to their base in Montrose in the same year. They established Fort Des Moines #2 where the Iowa Cubs now play baseball. Fort Dodge was also established by them. Occasional Dragoon sightings are still reported in Fort Dodge.
Well Marked Trail. You needn't walk or ride horses to Minnesota. These days you can travel in air conditioned comfort from Lake Red Rock to Fort Dodge following this well marked trail. You'll find this particular marker as you head downhill from Saylorville Dam in the direction of Des Moines (formerly Fort Des Moines #2). The Dam to Dam Run closely follows 97% of this same exact trail.
NW 66th. You'll spot this marker as you near 66th Avenue.
Morningside Drive. And as you head south on Morningside Drive you'll see this Marker -- so much easier by car than on foot. Just ask any Dam to Dam participant.
Aurora City Limits. Take a left when you hit our City Limits. Keep going east until Sixth Avenue -- one of our Highland Park arteries.
Sixth Avenue. Turn right on Sixth Avenue. And peruse our business district.
Sixth and Euclid. Through our passenger window, we shot this marker on the Aqualand Pets Plus door in our business district. Another drive by shooting? Some people wonder how we got that sign? Well ... When you write a Dragoon Trail brochure for the US Army Corps of Engineers, they don't actually pay you in cash. We also got some shiny beads.
Birdland Drive. The Dragoon Trail tracks along the river. Between the Dragoon Trail and the Des Moines River, you see the Saylorville Trail aka Neal Smith Trail. Which then goes to ...
Pennsylvania Avenue. Birdland Drive, Birdland Park, Birdland Marina, Union Park, Saylorville Trail, and the Dragoon Trail all coincide at this juncture in the Universe. Coincidence? I don't think so.
University Avenue. Turn right on University and head for the University bridge over the Des Moines River.
Not so Fast. Take another left at the street before the river and head down along the riverside. You'll find the Botanical Center on the left and the Des Moines River on your right.
More Signs. Just keep following those markers. You'll get there.
To Your Left. The Des Moines Botanical Center and its outside gardens can't be missed -- even from the MacVicar Freeway. You will want to take the tour someday.
On the Right. You'll also want to walk thru the Jim Muro perennial garden. It's nicely lit at night.
Even Righter. Here's another one of those water stirrers headed upstream.
In Progress. They're making headway on this first building in the Chinese Cultural Center. We first heard about it a decade and a half ago. If it's a Chinese Center, why are so many Iowans footing the bill? Another mystery.
Another Dam Picture. Remember the Dam to Dam Run? Theoretically the run ends here. In reality, it finishes in Nollen Plaza.
Follow the Markers. The Dragoons marched right past our City Hall, which you see directly behind the sign..
Another Marker. Apparently the Dragoons had time to put up another Dragoon Trail sign..
On Court Avenue. You'll find lots of markers thruout downtown Des Moines. They direct you to the Scott Street Bridge area. Unfortunately, the Cubbies were playing, so the road was impassable. We detoured east a half mile or so ...
SE Sixth. We headed for B&B for some killer sandwiches. Unfortunately, they close at 6:30 and we arrived at 6:31. As we mentioned earlier, the trail heads on south to Redrock Dam. But we terminated our explorations because our rations ran out. We headed back to the East Village for Greek food, Greek beer, and Greek belly dancing.
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