The trails at Banner may be the most fun and most feared trails in central Iowa. Banner Lakes is the site of an old strip mine and most of the trails there are built on the piles of tailings. On the northern trails (Coal Miner’s Daughter, New Ed Beach, Missing Link, and Corner Pocket) you will always find yourself going up, going down, or going around a tight corner — very often at least two of those at once, and probably on slightly loose rock or going over a bridge to boot. The beginner’s trail (Riverside) is on the south side of the main lake and is great for kids or for adding a recovery mile to your ride. In the Summer of 2012, a group of architecture students from Iowa State University designed and constructed wooden technical trail features in an area near the end of Coal Miner’s Daughter.

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