Historic Routes
 Dragoons were lightly armed cavalry soldiers who scouted Iowa soon after the Black Hawk Purchase (1832) to put the area under the control of the United States government. Following the course of the Des Moines River, the Dragoons blazed a trail through newly acquired lands that would soon become the state of Iowa. Dragoons established outposts from present-day Des Moines to Fort Dodge in the spring and summer of 1835.
Today, you can again travel this beautiful “greenbelt” area, a 200-mile corridor along the Des Moines, Boone and Raccoon rivers. By following the Dragoon Trail signs, you can trace the most scenic portion of their route, from just below Lake Red Rock to Fort Dodge and Webster City. Points of interest along the way include Lake Red Rock, Ledges State Park, the Kate Shelley High Bridge and Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Look for signs in downtown Des Moines on the east side of the Des Moines River, on Highway 316 and county road G40 near Lake Red Rock/Knoxville, Highway 415 near Polk City, and Highway 20 near Fort Dodge.
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