You heard about new mountain bike trails in Mason City and now you want to check them out? Excellent! Here’s a guide as you begin your decent into being a crazy person that plays bikes in the trees for fun. If you’re already that person, then welcome – you’re among friends here.
A couple basics before getting too far. You’ll need a bike capable of riding on single track mountain bike trails – hardtail mountain bikes, full suspension and even fat tire bikes will all work. Can you ride these trails on your grandpa’s old 1960’s Schwinn? Sure, but you can also eat paint chips. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. You will also need a bicycle helmet no more than 3 to 5 years old. You get one brain, protect it. Equally important is to have hydration and carry your phone in case of emergency.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the main dish.
From a once-industrial landscape to a signature outdoor adventure hub, the Prairie Rock Trails Bike Park showcases how Mason City’s grit, creativity, and passion for outdoor recreation can transform a community. Designed and built by Rock Solid Trail Contracting, LLC—one of North America’s leading trail specialists—the Bike Park delivers a world-class riding experience right in the heart of North Iowa. Riders of all ages and skill levels will find something to love, with professionally crafted terrain that includes flowing lines, technical elements, a kid-friendly pump track, and progressive jump features. Whether you're learning the basics or chasing big air, the PRT Bike Park is built to inspire. Located at 1500 Elm Drive, adjacent to the Zerbles Trailhead.
Perfect for beginners with optional features like log/bridge skinnies, an extremely short loop that can be easily repeated, and a wide dirt path where the penalty for error is low. It also features an optional stairstep drop and a rock jump that can be easily ridden in either direction. The Rapids can be accessed from the Winnebago River kayak launch point off of 12th Street NE. If you’re feeling adventurous, try dropping in from the dead end on 10th Street NE.
Cyclists describe this trail as an adult playground, which features seven progressive jump/tech lines. Each jump line is easily repeatable, and each progression offers new obstacles like table tops, knuckle jumps, and gap jumps. The two technical lines feature steep drops followed by rock garden navigation. The outer loop has a great cross-country feel, with many rollers and berms flowing through trees. The outer loop can be ridden in either direction. The inner loop from the eastern hub features a jump line with an optional stone drop and an observation point where you can rest. The inner loop is also easily repeatable. While the inner loop can be ridden in both directions, the preferred direction seems counterclockwise. Evans Preserve is excellent for intermediate to advanced riders.
A linear multi-directional trail with a great cross-country feel and flow through trees. (Hit at speed for an extra thrilling ride!) Jumps can be performed in several different areas, or you can simply roll over them. The trail is just under a mile long and has two access points. Enter from the west on Illinois Avenue near the Mason City High School softball field or the south on 4th Street by the Mason City High School parking lot.
Little Riverhawk is excellent for beginners as the dirt trail is wide, and the penalty for failure is relatively low. It features a short square loop with many rollers that weave through trees along the south side of the property. It has dual inner pump tracks as well. The trail is located behind Lincoln Intermediate School on the large field at the corner of 18th Street SE and South Massachusetts Avenue.
For the best tour of the new trails, start at Zerbles Trailhead/City Dog Park parking lot. The future Mason City Bike Park is being constructed just north of this area!
Easily follow the route with GPS by clicking >>HERE.
If you’re the kind of cross-country mountain biker who craves winding dirt singletrack, tight tree-dodging turns, roots, rocks, and a true “ride through the woods” adventure, Lime Creek Conservation Area is your go-to destination. This expansive natural area on Mason City’s north side has emerged as a cornerstone of the Prairie Rock Trails singletrack network, offering a mix of scenic bluffs, technical features, and beginner-friendly connections.
In recent years, Lime Creek staff and local partners have invested heavily in improving the trail experience—closing unsafe or unsanctioned paths, adding new connectors, installing official signage, and updating TrailForks to make navigation easier than ever. The result is a thoughtfully designed singletrack system that rewards exploration while still being friendly to riders new to the area.
For the full Mason City XC singletrack experience, riders don’t actually begin inside Lime Creek. Instead, the recommended route starts at the Zerbles Trailhead next to the Prairie Rock Trails Bike Park. From here:
Once inside Lime Creek Conservation Area, the singletrack unfolds into a scenic, interconnected system:
Lime Creek also features miles of doubletrack—well-signed and easy to follow—perfect for extending your mileage, connecting loops, or exploring at a more relaxed pace.
Thanks to new trail markers throughout the conservation area and updated TrailForks data, navigating the Lime Creek Conservation Area has never been simpler. On TrailForks:
Checking the map online or through the TrailForks mobile app is highly recommended before you ride.
If you’re looking to find a friend, there are a few options. The best is to post in the North Iowa Human Powered Trails Facebook group that you are visiting. Lots of us are out riding the trails anyway, and quite a few of us are comfortable playing tour guide. Another good option is to join the Wayne’s weekly shop mountain bike ride. We often ride the city side and into Lime Creek Nature Center. That event is every Tuesday at 6:30 PM starting at Zerble’s Trailhead. >> RIDE WITH US
Written by Wayne’s Ski and Cycle Service Advisor Abraham Wolf with revisions by Visit Mason City.
Abe has been a mountain biking enthusiast for the past 7 years. He is a volunteer with North Iowa Human Powered Trails and the Mason City Mountain Bike Club. When he isn’t at work at Wayne’s Ski & Cycle as Service Advisor, he can often be found crashing bikes on the trails – likely from trying to send it a little too hard.
