Find the top rated birding trails in Dubuque, 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.
Absolutely gorgeous ride with the trail in perfect condition. Unlike other trails, this one is serviced often with repairs being done with crushed gravel instead of sand. They have put multiple new bathroom facilities throughout the trail as well.
The north most section has wonderful river views, picnic tables & benches. Then the trail runs along a heavy industrial area & is pretty ugly. The trail is also appears longer than the map indicates, but we turned back based on the map’s endpoint & poor scenery. TrailLink gives little mention to Eagle Point Park at the north end which is just amazing. If you just load/unload in their parking lot you will have missed the very best of the trail.
I rode the Northwest Arterial Trail on a chilly day in early September. It’s a nice paved trail that runs beside the NW Arterial Road so it’s a bit noisy and there are a few death machine crossings. It’s nice that it connects to the Heritage Trail in the north. I also found some Iowa hills! I give this one four stars for highway noise. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I rode this trail over three days on ten mile out and back trips in perfect weather starting in Dubuque to Durango, then next day to Epworth, then on to Dyersville. I normally try to ride paved trails but this one was a pleasant surprise. The crushed stone is like cement and I could ride 18 MPH easily with no issue. It was very scenic and mostly shaded with no big hills. Even the recent rain on day two did not seem to affect it. I rate this one high! This is the epitome of a great gravel trail. 5 stars. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I happened upon this trail as I was riding the Heritage Trail that it connects to. Very enjoyable and beautiful trail. Great spot for the locals. 5 stars from me.. Traveling Cyclist Facebook
I rode this trail in August 2024. I normally prefer to stick to paved trails but I’m glad I checked this one out. It meanders through woods and along the Turkey River. It’s pretty smooth riding other than a short section of larger loose rock soon after heading south out of Elkader and at the underpass of Hwy 13 but it smooths out again for the remainder. I was able to maintain 18 mph with 700X38 tires. 5 stars for this guy. Traveling cyclist Facebook
Like another user said, there are ruts and lots of loose gravel from Ridgeway to mount Horeb. Unfortunately I found one coming off a bridge and fell off my bike. I landed on right side l, got some bruises and road rash but no brokens or sprains. I had avoided some bigger, deeper ones closer to Mount Horeb but did not see this one between Ridgeway and Barneveld.
Road Mineral to calamine and back on a ebike with 1.5" tires at 45psi. Scenic but rather brutal ride. Sections are ok but then you come across sections that are really rough. The atvs go fast relative to a bike rider plus generate lots of dust and noise. I would not recommend it for biking.
While this is mainly a beautiful trail, the section from Dodgeville to Mt Horeb has some technically challenging spots. Many major ruts and lots of loose sand that may grab your rear wheels. The stretch from Mt Horeb to Msn is Way better.
While this is mainly a beautiful trail, the section from Dodgeville to Mt Horeb has some technically challenging spots. Many major ruts and lots of loose sand that may grab your rear wheels. The stretch from Mt Horeb to Msn is Way better.
Not super busy and runs along side hotel. It has a very good view of the Mississippi River and it’s not very long
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!