The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department manages over 4,171 acres of property. They offer 1,500 recreation programs annually including 6-8 mile group bike rides in the fall on approved bike trails. The department maintains recreational trails throughout the city for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. There are also nearby state parks and a local nature center offering a variety of outdoor educational and recreational opportunities. Here are some of the best biking & hiking trails in the Cedar Rapids area to enjoy all year long (weather permitting of course). Happy Trails!
Mountain Biking Trails
Beverly Park: There are 4.6 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails to explore at Beverly Park. The signage is a work in progress, so take a good look before you leap. The trails offer a good mix of difficulty levels through rolling hills. There is a kid's loop at the park.
Biking on Shared-Use Trails
Sac & Fox Trail: This is Iowa’s first National Recreation Trail established in 1975. The 7.1 mile trail is a pressed limestone surface traveling through the forest along streams before reaching the Cedar River. It is mostly level. It is a shared-use path. You will be sharing the road with hikers and horseback riders.
Hoover Nature Trail: Enjoy a 7.4 mile trek ( out-and-back on this 3.7 mile section) through farm fields and prairie on this crushed gravel abandoned railroad line. The Hoover Nature Trail is a rail-trail project taking advantage of an abandoned railroad line for recreational pleasure. The entire trail will run 27.7 miles from Cedar Rapids to Burlington when complete. It is a work in progress. There are surfaces of asphalt, concrete, crushed stone, grass, and gravel to traverse over the entire trail. You will be sharing the road with hikers, runners, and birdwatchers along this 3.7 mile section.
Cedar Valley Nature Trail: This is a great place to go biking and fly fishing. The 12.6 mile trail is paved. It will bring you to McCloud’s Run, Iowa’s only urban trout stream. The stream is fed by natural springs and supports brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout (along with several other species). Strap on your favorite 4-pc 3 weight rod and enjoy a combination bike ride/fishing trip! You will be sharing the paved path with inline skaters (and anglers on their way to the rich bounty of the stream). The city asks that you control your speed and “practice good trail etiquette”.
Hiking Trails
Indian Creek Nature Center: Explore 200 acres of various landscapes on miles of hiking trails at the Indian Creek Nature Center. The center has various programs throughout the year. There is a “Hike it Baby!” program scheduled for September 30th, 2022. It is a family-friendly hike encouraging new parents to welcome newborns to the great outdoors on a guided tour. The hike is free to children and members ($5 for adult non-members).
Palisades-Kepler State Park: There are 5+ miles of hiking trails that wind through the hardwood forest along dramatic bluffs overlooking the Cedar River. You will be walking through forests where wooly mammoths once roamed (a tooth was found here to prove it). You will likely encounter wild turkeys or whitetail deer during present day adventures. The black maple trees shed their leaves in mid-October as the forest turns a deep golden yellow. The Palisades Loop trail is a popular 1.6 mile route running alongside the river with cliff views during the hike. There are some steep hills to climb (some hikers consider the hike moderately challenging). Dogs are welcome to join in the fun when kept on a leash.
Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty has been helping Midwesterners with all of their real estate needs since 1887. We look forward to helping you find the perfect home in the Cedar Rapids & Corridor area of Iowa. Contact us today!
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