The Longest Glow in the Dark Trail in the Nation Shines in Vinton [VIDEO]

The city of Vinton is proud of its small-town roots. And they continue to take pride in the nation's longest glow-in-the-dark trail, and the man it was named after.

The first glow-in-the-dark trail in Iowa, and the longest in the entire United States, opened near Vinton in 2021, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The trail is a sight to behold. An engineer who worked on the project told the Gazette what makes the trail glow. The little green flecks of light are ultra-grade, half-inch, emerald green glow stones. There is one pound of stones for every 16 square feet of concrete on the trail.

But perhaps more important than how the trail was constructed is who the trail is named for. The glow-in-the-dark trail in Vinton is called the Nathan's Miles Trail. The Gazette reports that it is named in memory of former Vinton city council member Nathon Hesson, who was an early advocate for the project. Hesson passed away in January 2021 at the age of 37. The community chose the name because it sounds like 'Nathan Smiles, ' which is something he was known for in Vinton.

The Gazette reports that people come from all over the U.S. and even Europe to check out the glow-in-the-dark trail. How many communities have a trail to run and bike on during the day and the night?

If you'd like to visit Nathan's Miles Trail for yourself, here is a map and the route that the trail follows. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, too.

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