Description
The American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through the Quad Cities area on its journey from Pacific to Atlantic coast. The trail is well-established, entering the region in the east along the Hennepin Parkway State Trail. The ADT continues west into Colona, Illinois along the Hennepin Parkway Trail and marked streets. Crossing the Rock River along Illinois State Highway 84, the trail turns northward on marked roads through Carbon Cliff, Silvis, and East Moline, Illinois, where it meets the Great River Trail (GRT) along the Mississippi River. Following the GRT through East Moline, Moline, and into Rock Island, trail enthusiasts will see sweeping views of the Mississippi across to the Iowa shoreline.
The ADT crosses the Mississippi into Iowa from Rock Island, Illinois at historic Arsenal Island, which still serves as a military installation, providing support through commerce and industry to the Nation’s armed forces. It then continues on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) west through Davenport, across Credit Island, and along the river until it reaches the Davenport/Buffalo border. Farther west on IA-22, a section of the route in Buffalo is now on a paved, off-road trail.
Other Information
The American Discovery Trail (ADT) traverses the U.S. coast to coast from California to Delaware for more than 6,800 miles across 15 states. In this region, the ADT includes the Great River Trail (GRT) in Rock Island and Moline, and is part of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) through Illinois and Iowa, a 3,000 mile trail system that follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota to its delta at the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, Louisiana. The ADT also includes portions of the Grand Illinois Trail (GIT), a 500-mile trail system linking Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River in northern Illinois.
The Rock River Trail is a system of recreational trails on and along the Rock River that goes through 11 counties in Wisconsin and Illinois. This QC Trails featured trail is part of that network. The Rock River Trail was established in 2010 to promote recreational use and appreciation of all 320 miles of the Rock River. Visit the trail online to learn more about how to hike, bike, paddle, horseback ride, drive, fly, or appreciate history, art, or chocolate along the trail!
Elevation Profile
The American Discovery Trail in the Quad Cities region is comprised of many local trails along its route. Please refer to the individual trails that are listed under the section "Show Connector Trails" and view trail postings to see their elevation profiles. [Note: some of these connector trails are trails that intersect the ADT, but are not the ADT route itself.]
Trail Manager
For more information, visit the national American Discovery Trail (ADT) website or contact the ADT office; or local trail managers:
Parks Department
East Moline City Hall
915 16th Avenue
East Moline, IL 61244
(309) 752-1573
Parks and Recreation Department
4303 24th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 732-7275
View website
Greenways and Trails Program
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271
(217) 782-6302
View website
Nearby Geocaches
Trail Map
Trailhead Information
There are many access points and trailheads that ADT trail enthusiasts can utilize. Entering the Quad Cities Region from the east, the trail passes through, or nearby, the cities of Annawan, Atkinson, Geneseo, Colona, Carbon Cliff, Silvis, and East Moline. As it meets and turns west to parallel the Mississippi River, users can access this national trail at many points, including Empire Park and Beacon Harbor in East Moline; multiple locations along the Ben Butterworth Memorial Parkway in Moline; and nearby QC Botanical Center in Rock Island before the trail crosses the Mississippi River at Arsenal Island. Running along the north shore of the Mississippi through Davenport, Iowa, trailheads and access points are located at Lindsay Park, LeClaire Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and Credit Island Park.
Be a safe and respectful bicyclist and follow these rules of the road: bike in the same direction as traffic, obey all traffic signs including stop lights and stop signs, outfit your bike with reflectors and wear high-visibility clothes, have working brakes, ride single file on the right side of the lane, and be aware of motorists who might not see you. Don't forget to use hand signals to let people know of your intentions!
