Find the top rated hike trails in Iowa City, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Rode 12 miles out and back on this trail. Parked at Credit Island Park - lots of spaces for parking - and rode north. There are active and busy train tracks next to the trail and then on the other side is the Mississippi River. The route is industrial vibe scenic on the section I rode. I really enjoyed the trains. There is a section of the trail that is a detour onto the sidewalk for about 3 blocks around Quinlan Park (hope I remembered that name right). The blacktop/concrete trail surface is typical for this kind of ride next to industry. Some roots heaving up here and there but nothing too crazy. I’d recommend the ride because how Often do you get a chance to ride with trains, barges, and the mighty Mississippi River?!
Wonderful trail from Iowa City to Tiffin. Fun to see how it winds under the interstate. Some shade, some sun. Could use a little more directional signage. Nicely maintained and ample benches to relax and enjoy nature.
Have not walked but biked and very fun also little off road side trails very fun
Well maintained trail. Busy with very curved paths, must pay attention. Beautiful scenery
My son and I rode from the visitor center east to the first aqueduct, about 20 miles round trip. It was beautiful day, we took our time, looked for turtles and stopped at a Casey's in Wyanet for lunch. Keeping to a healthy diet I went for sausage pizza, Yoo-hoo and an iced sugar cookie. The trail was rough, and rougher in spots but not a problem on my gravel bike with 40 mm tires. My son rides a Synapse with 35 tires and did it have a problem. If you ride a road bike or prefer smooth trails this might not be for you. we enjoyed it.
Some really pretty parts but a lot of road riding. Started from Cattail Slough Boat Launch (free parking as long as you don’t have a boat trailer attached to your car), rode to Mississippi Pallisades State Park and camped. Rode back the next day. Campground was fantastic and Krumpets Bakery in Fulton should not be missed. The actual trail portions were nice and the Thomson Recreational Area was nice. In Northern Illinois you have to know that there’s going to be a lot of long distance straight sections but this was excessively so. Maybe 35% was trail and 65% road. Happy to say I’ve ridden it but won’t return.
Just finished riding this trail over four days. They were in the middle of repaving a section which I thought was great but right along route 84 very scary and hazardous.. you either had to walk your bike through the grass, or take your chances on the highway. The trail is poorly marked when you have to take secondary roads to reconnect with the trail, especially when you’re heading towards Moline.. good places to stay very close to the trail and there is no problem finding any place to eat. I’ve ridden it once that will probably be my only time I will ride this trail..
This trail was miserable to ride with a hybrid touring bike. It would be completely unusable on a road bike despite what the trail description may say. The gravel is so bumpy and the trail has been barely maintained. Not much of a surprise in hindsight given the fact that I saw zero other cyclists throughout an entire day riding on this trail. I would only ride this trail again with a fat tire. What is nice though is the trail is very remote and quiet.
We started the duck creek trail at the west trailhead. There had been an ef2 tornado three days earlier, so we did have to go around some downed tree limbs. But about 1/2 mile down the trail, it was closed due to what appears to be a new road construction. Since we could see where the trail might start again, we drove to the eastern riverdale trailhead. Glad we did. GREAT trail. Scenic and shady which was good since it was 85 and humid.
While this is not the first ride on this trail, it is a more seasonal ride. First and foremost, e we started in early spring from Dysart. The weather was not great, nor was the trail; very soft and potholes everywhere fire a mile. We turned around. Today however, we took some mild “advice” from another reviewer; started in Garrison and headed east. VERY well-maintained trail. Trail bed is wide, mature, manicured, etc. The substrate is very even and surface not lumpy nor pock-marked. While there were many branches overhanging the trail bed, the relief the wooded nature provided was very welcome in the summer heat. Very pleased, we’ll be back many more times to come. To this point, I foresee much opportunity in the winter with snowshoes and/or x-country skis.
I rode the length of this trail many years ago. I recently in mid June 2025 rode from Center Point to the outskirts of Cedar Rapids. I was surprised that it was glass smooth asphalt ( I was expecting crushed stone as it was when I rode it before) the whole 12 or 13 miles. One of the best trails in Iowa. 5 stars! Traveling cyclist Facebook
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