The Cedar River Trail extends between Blairs Ferry Road NE (also the southern end point of the
Cedar Valley Nature Trail) through downtown Cedar Rapids and 76th Avenue SW. At 76th Avenue, the trail becomes the
Hoover Nature Trail. The 12.6-mile trail passes through the suburbs and urban landscape in the north, while its southern end encompasses more parklands and begins heading into farmland encroached upon by suburban sprawl.
The trail follows along McCloud's Run, Cedar Lake and the Cedar River, natural oases in an urban setting. Parts of the trail are landscaped with grasses and wildflowers native to the Iowa prairie, providing habitat for the varied songbirds and mammals that live along the corridor.
Parking is available at Tait Cummins Park on C Street SW, at Werner Avenue and at McLoud Run Place on the NE side of Cedar Rapids.
The trail seems to have something for everyone. Especially north of Cedar Lake to the junction with the Cedar Valley trail in Hiawatha, it serves as a commuter route for those using a bike as basic transportation. Especially around Cedar Lake it is ideal ...