Explore the best rated trails in Cedar Rapids, IA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and Old Creamery Nature Trail . With more than 48 trails covering 4071 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I've run on the Old Creamery Nature Trail several dozen times per year for over a decade. As trails go it is well kept, and was even resurfaced a few years ago. When there has been a lot of rain, or after a winter thaw, there can be some muddy areas but those tend to be minimal and are not very common. The Vinton side of the trail is usually in slightly better condition than the Dysart side. Both the Vinton and Dysart ends of the trail are bounded by open farmland. The middle section of the trail for miles on either side of Garrison is mostly wooded and usually provides a chance to spot some wildlife. I've frequently seen eagle, owl, hawk, pheasant, turkey, deer, fox, groundhog, possum, raccoon, coyote and occasionally even a person or two. My experience is that the section from Vinton to Garrison will have a few people on it about half of the time when the weather is nice, but Dysart to Garrison sees almost no traffic so it presents an ideal opportunity for solitude if you are so inclined.
This was a fun trail to ride. Almost 100% concrete, flat and fast. It’s a nice mix of woods, town and suburbs and some industrial areas.
First time walking this trail. It's a good trail with pretty views. Will be walking it again.
This trail is a great resource for Eastern and Northeastern Iowa. Overall nice trail. There are some places that could use a bit more crushed limestone around Urbana. Bridge in LaPorte City opened back up in 2020 (be sure to stop at Tootsie's).
Connects to a lot of other trails. Be sure to stop at Anton's Garden.
This was a very peaceful walk on a hot afternoon. Well shaded with trees. Very enjoyable.
The crushed limestone is very nice and creates an easy ride. My husband and I were riding our fat tire e-bikes just for reference. It is basically flat but there is one spot where there is an exciting, quick up and down hill. There are very neat selfie and/or photo spots! The Big Foot caught us off guard and we of course had to stop and take a picture! The sights are beautiful! There are some houses along the way that are neat to look at. There is also a stop at Graf Park that has very nice and clean permanent bathrooms. It was really nice to stop at these bathrooms. Highly suggest this route for all age bike riders!!! It is also about 80% shade so if it is really hot...no worries!!!
The crushed limestone is very nice and creates an easy ride. My husband and I were riding our fat tire e-bikes just for reference. It is basically flat but there is one spot where there is an exciting, quick up and down hill. There are very neat selfie and/or photo spots! The Big Foot caught us off guard and we of course had to stop and take a picture! The sights are beautiful! There are some houses along the way that are neat to look at. There is also a stop at Graf Park that has very nice and clean permanent bathrooms. It was really nice to stop at these bathrooms. Highly suggest this route for all age bike riders!!! It is also about 80% shade so if it is really hot…no worries!!!
This review is based upon my previous two experiences of riding this trail, once in August 2022 and the other just recently in June 2023. I like that the trail is about 15 miles in length. The trail is crushed limestone, mostly compacted, but there are some areas where the gravel is a little loose. For the most part, the trail is pretty decent. There are very slight inclines in places; however, the trail is mostly flat. Crossings over gravel roads and other right of ways through the the trail are fairly well marked. I did not encounter a lot of other traffic on the trail over the course of the multiple times I rode the stretch from Vinton to Dysart. There isn't much along the trail between Vinton to Garrison and then Garrison to Dysart. There are a few areas along the entire trail with a bench for a rest, if needed. There is a nice shelter and rest area in Garrison, which is about 6 miles into the ride from Vinton. The rest area includes a water bottle filling station, and a bike repair station (these were installed in 2022).
The negatives about the trail were that in late summer there was a bit of vegetation overgrowth down the center of the trail, not the entire trail, but parts of the trail. Additionally, on both occassions I rode this trail, there were a number of large potholes, and some smaller ones, which were likely created by burrowing animals. Some of these holes are large enough to cause a significant crash if you are not paying attention and are cruising along at a good speed.
During my most recent experience, I rode on the trail just after a thunderstorm. I have a hybrid bike, so I purposefully underinflated my tires by a few pounds to allow for a less bumby ride. What I hadn't counted on was the trail surface still being a bit soft, so I spent a lot of extra effort just to pedal even on the flat surfaces. Think of riding your bike through sand, perhaps not that bad, but my tires definitely sunk into the surface and I exerted a lot of extra energy and effort to complete the entire 30 mile roundtrip ride.
Overall, this is a nice trail. When the surface is in good condition it's a good ride and the scenery is beautiful. Depending on the time of year, you are likely to see a lot of wildlife such as deer, birds, rabbits, and some raccoons. During one of my rides in 2022, I did spot a bobcat, but it quickly dashed into the tree line once spotting me.
This is a paved path that follows a nice wooded creek through the east side of Iowa City. Lots of little park areas & connector paths to various neighborhoods. Friendly people, attractive, safe & mostly tree-lined as well as with the ability to hear & see a creek. Occasional ducks! Perfect for dog-walking, kid walking & biking, indoor toilets & a drinking fountain mid-path. Includes a dog park at Scott Park. Not a hiking path for outdoor adventurers but perfect for a stroll or as part of a more strenuous walk, run, or ride.
We rode this trail in late May, 2023. The concrete trail is very wide, and just a few slight hills when you reach the campground. It is great to ride along the Wapsipinicon river, and then through the campground itself. A wonderful addition to Central City! if you have your children with you, there are several amazing playgrounds with a rubberized surface, as well as all accessible swings, etc.!
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