The Clive Greenbelt Trail follows Walnut Creek through scenic, densely wooded areas. Along the trail, west of the Maddox Parkway Trailhead, there are about 10 acres of restored prairie land. This means the Greenbelt can be appreciated both for its wooded creek corridor and its restored prairie.
Greenbelt and trail hours
In 2019, the Clive Greenbelt was named an “Iowa Great Place” by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. This recognition adds a cultural connection to the landscape description. The Clive Greenbelt trails are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. These hours are useful for planning your day; check for temporary closures before visiting.
Trails by length and landscape
The Raccoon River Valley Trail in Clive is 2.6 miles long. This gives anyone looking to gauge a route by a specific distance a clear figure. By contrast, the Clive Greenbelt Trail is defined by Walnut Creek, dense woodland and restored prairie land. The two trails therefore offer different points of reference when choosing: a stated length or a described landscape. The Greenbelt Trail is used year-round by runners, walkers and cyclists; checking current closure notices is still part of planning.
Seasonal water activities
The Clive Aquatic Center adds a seasonal water offering to the local options. Activities include public swimming, swimming lessons and water aerobics. The leisure pool is intended for young children and families; there is also a standard swimming pool with slides and diving boards. Visitors can float around a short loop in a tube on the lazy river. The options listed range from lessons and exercise in the water to the leisure pool and the short loop. Since operations are seasonal and features may change as part of a redesign, check current hours and offerings before your visit. If a particular pool is central to your visit, confirm its availability in advance.
Art and community events
Clive also aims to develop and promote a public art program. The city connects this effort to several goals: strengthening civic pride, giving important places an artistic character, and fostering aesthetic education and appreciation among residents and visitors. For travelers, this offers a glimpse of the cultural role the city hopes public spaces will play in Clive.
The Clive Festival also offers a time-specific reason to consider Clive for a community celebration. The city’s 2025 sponsorship guide announced that the annual, multi-day festival would take place on July 18 and 19 at Clive’s Greenbelt Landing. The program included the “Thunder Over Clive” fireworks. If you’d like to plan a trip around the festival, check current event dates rather than relying on the dates listed in the 2025 guide.
Explore more destinations: Ankeny, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines.
Go to the broader travel overview: Polk.
