Find the top rated birding trails in Cedar Falls, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This is a local trail for us so we ride it frequently. We normally ride from Ely to check village in Cedar Rapids or from Hiawatha to Center point. When we ride in Cedar Rapids in Hiawatha there are quite a few streets to cross that are fairly busy. This can slow you down a little bit and you need to be extremely cautious. We have never ridden past Center point so I don’t know what the trail is like after that however the trail is in excellent condition and a joy to ride from Ely to Center Point
Rode this trail 32 miles on 6/23/18. The trailhead parking lot across the highway from Melbourne is not well marked or mowed, branches and weeds were high, so we elected to park in the town. The trail was nice but beware of the cracks in the concrete surface. The gravel trail crossings were not problem on my gravel bike but a roadie made want to slow down. Another rider informed us that all the crossings are supposed to updated to concrete by next year. Nice trail that gets nicer on closer to the Linn Creek trail near Marshalltown. All in all, a nice ride that was worth the trip to try this trailride
I headed south from Evansdale toward La Porte City. It's a good trail in the fact that it's flat so I didn't have to struggle with lots of hills like some other trails around the Cedar Valley. However there is a part of the trail closer to Evansdale that is gone in which you have to take your bike on a little dirt path to continue riding. There is also a bridge out closer to La Porte City. I hope they plan on fixing these issues so that the trail is in better shape.
First time to try this trail- definitely will not be our last!! Nice surprise that we were able to make a 32 mile ride by staying on the trail all the way to Readlyn and then the leg to Denver. If you are looking for a place to stop- I would highly recommend The Sweet Spot ice cream shop In Denver-what yummy and unique treats!!!
You won't meet your Waterloo here! Rather you will have the time of your life. As a Blackhawk County expatriate, I have ridden trails across dozens of states, and these trails rank among the best. Also They are a tribute which resonates with Waterloo Parks legend---- former parks director Leonard Katoski. They intersperse throughout his visionary Greenbelt which divides Waterloo Cedar Falls.
Again, all Blackhawk County trails leading any direction will result in biking bliss
Just started riding a bike for the first time since I was 10 and this trail is very enjoyable
This is a great trail for novice riders, or those getting into shape. It's an old rail trail, so it's flat. It's very scenic and a nice ride. There is trail damage from a recent flood and a section near Waterloo is completely washed out. It's closed there, but you can get through if you can carry your bike. I did almost 27 miles and greatly enjoyed it!
Biking on this trail allows riders to see a lot of the midwest scenic variance which Marshall County offers. Beginning on the west side of the trail, riders will go from Grimes Farm through a small forest area which runs along a double railroad line. This section is always shaded and cool and offers a nice retreat from the summer heat. This is followed by a short jaunt through the city of Marshalltown itself. This is part of the original trail and follows Linn Creek through both residential and industrial areas. There are several places to stop and enjoy the local scene. Following this section is a run along the forested east side of Marshalltown. The view along what I would describe as prairie land is beautiful, especially in the evening. You eventually find yourself along the Iowa River which brings you to Riverview Park. The trail from start to end is about 10 miles. The entire thing is paved and mostly flat. The trail is accessable at numbeous points throughout the city. You'll mostly see bikers, walkers/joggers, and a few people walking to fishing grounds along the river. All in all, a very nice place to ride.
Trail was more interesting than I was expecting. Seems like it's location probably keeps it a bit of a secret. I would definitely ride it again. Some more details below:
It had changing scenery including rural (fields doing well in July, Amish family farming, horses with foals), wooded areas (some tunnel-like with trees), deer crossed the path, many birds and other wildlife, long boardwalk/deck trail through wetland, all with mostly level grade with some curves and short hills for some variety. Several miles were actually concrete instead of asphalt (I've never encountered that on a public trail before).
Had the trail mostly to ourselves on a holiday. It is in great condition except for just a few minor spots that were marked.
Only "neutral" comments are that we started in Riceville at the trailhead, but the parking lot only contained 1 non-HC spot. However the street was bare so we simply parked on it. Don't know if it ever gets so busy where that would be a problem.
Signage is better than many trails, but couple times needed to look around a bit more to find which direction the trail continued (when crossing some gravel roads), had to shortly go onto some rural (low travel) roads for a bit, and then there is the one short section that requires riding on a country gravel road to "portage" to the trail. This gap was somewhere around 11 miles north of Riceville, so you could skip that and get a nice 22 mile round trip in witout it.
The western end, as you approach Grimes Farm, is pleasant enough and has recently been resurfaced. But most of the trail as it winds around the town of Marshalltown, seems to have been deliberately routed through the least scenic parts of the city.
The surface is paved, but there are several spots covered with stripes of tar where the pavement has cracked, and all along the northern and eastern parts of the trail there are big cracks with weeds growing up through the middle of the trail.
Not my favorite ride.
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