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Waterloo, IA Birding Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Birding trails around Waterloo?

Find the top rated birding trails in Waterloo, 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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Name
Length
Most Popular

Big Woods Trail (IA)

1.9 mi

State: IA

Concrete

C.R. Roberts Memorial Trail

1 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Cedar Valley Lakes Trail

16 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

70.6 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Central City Trail (IA)

3 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Charley Western Recreational Trailway

4 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Evansdale Nature Trail

1.9 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Gilbert Drive Trail

1 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi

State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY

Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Lone Tree Road Trail

2.31 mi

State: IA

Concrete

River's Edge Trail (IA)

7.1 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Rolling Prairie Trail

21 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Sergeant Road Trail

9.9 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Shell Rock River Trail (Butler County Nature Trail)

5.9 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

South Riverside Trail

8 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Waverly Rail Trail

7.6 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Cedar Prairie Trail

7.9 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Denver-Jefferson Trail

1.8 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Grant Wood Trail (Linn County Segment)

14.3 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Grass, Gravel

Iowa 330/US 30 Trail

11.1 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Accordion

Linn Creek Recreational Trail

10 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Old Creamery Nature Trail

15.3 mi

State: IA

Cinder, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Pine Lake Trail

2.4 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Pioneer Trail (IA)

11.5 mi

State: IA

Crushed Stone

Readlyn Grump Trail

6.3 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Wolf Creek Trail (IA)

2.6 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Boyson Trail

3.4 mi

State: IA

Crushed Stone

Comet Trail

7 mi

State: IA

Crushed Stone, Grass

12th Street Trail

1.51 mi

State: IA

Concrete

1st Street Trail

1.6 mi

State: IA

Concrete

218 Trail

1.43 mi

State: IA

Concrete

CEMAR Trail

5.4 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Cedar Heights Drive Trail

0.6 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Donald Street Trail

2.54 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Edgewood Trail

1.2 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Ellis Trail

3.5 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Greenhill Trail

4.68 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Grundy County Lake Trail

3 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Hudson Road Trail

2.22 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Manchester Walkway/Bikeway Trails

3.5 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Trail

3.54 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Prairie Lakes Trail

3.4 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Riverside Trail (IA)

1.2 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Riverview Recreation Area Trail

2.7 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Shaulis Road Trail

5.59 mi

State: IA

Concrete

South Tama Recreation Trail

5.6 mi

State: IA

Crushed Stone, Dirt

Sweet Water Creek Trail

2 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Trolley Trail (Waterloo)

1.4 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel

UNI Preserve Trail

0.8 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

US 63 Trail

0.8 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Union Road Trail

1.01 mi

State: IA

Concrete

University Avenue Trail

3.1 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Trail Image	Trail Name	States	Length	Surface	Rating
	Big Woods Trail (IA) Cedar Falls, Iowa serves as the endpoint of one of Iowa’s favorite regional trails, the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail, but also features an extensive network of multi-use paths and on-street bike...	IA	1.9 mi	Concrete	3 reviews
	C.R. Roberts Memorial Trail The C.R Roberts Memorial Trail in Dysart picks up right on the western end of the Old Creamery Nature Trail which travels all the way to Vinton via Garrison. Unlike the latter trail, this trail is...	IA	1 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
	Cedar Valley Lakes Trail The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail follows a heavily wooded route along the Cedar River, passing Alice Wyth Lake, Fisher Lake, George Wyth Lake and Brinker Lake. The opportunities for recreation are...	IA	16 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	5 reviews
	Cedar Valley Nature Trail Overview The Cedar Valley Nature Trail follows the fertile Cedar River between Evansdale and Ely. The 70.6-mile trail comprises three former trails—the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, the Cedar River...	IA	70.6 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt	32 reviews
	Central City Trail (IA) The Central City Trail winds for 3 miles along the banks of the Wapsinicon River, running through Pinicon Ridge County Park into downtown Central City. Pinicon Ridge County Park is 966 acres of...	IA	3 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Charley Western Recreational Trailway The Charley Western Recreational Trailway provides a useful off-road route around the outer limits of Charles City. Built on the site of the former Charles City Western Railway, the trail runs along...	IA	4 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
	Evansdale Nature Trail The Evansdale Nature Trail connects both residential and commercial areas in the northeastern Iowa city of Evansdale. One of the most charming aspects of the trail is the abundance of trees along its...	IA	1.9 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
	Gilbert Drive Trail Although only a mile long, the Gilbert Drive Trail is a key connector between two other trails in the northeastern Iowa community of Evansdale. To the west, it intersects with the Cedar Valley Nature...	IA	1 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Great American Rail-Trail Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...	DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY	3743.9 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone	7 reviews
	Lone Tree Road Trail Forming an important connection in the area's excellent network of multi-use trails, the Lone Tree Road Trail parallels its namesake roadway for over two miles in the northern reaches of Cedar Falls,...	IA	2.31 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	River's Edge Trail (IA) Following a former railroad corridor, the River's Edge Trail (formerly known as Iowa River Trail) will one day span 34 miles from Marshalltown in Marshall County to Steamboat Rock in Hardin County....	IA	7.1 mi	Concrete	3 reviews
	Rolling Prairie Trail When complete, the Rolling Prairie Tri-County Trail System will connect several communities and two state parks as it travels through quintessential northeastern Iowa prairie. The railroad on which...	IA	21 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	4 reviews
	Sergeant Road Trail The Sergeant Road Trail is part of the larger trails system in the Cedar Valley region of Iowa, which includes the cities of Cedar Falls and Waterloo. The trail parallels US 63—also known as Sergeant...	IA	9.9 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
	Shell Rock River Trail (Butler County Nature Trail) Part of the Rolling Prairie Trail, the Shell Rock River Trail (also known as the Butler County Nature Trail) connects the eastern edge of Clarksville with the community of Shell Rock. The trail runs...	IA	5.9 mi	Asphalt	3 reviews
	South Riverside Trail The South Riverside Trail is one in a series of trail systems throughout Cedar Falls, Iowa. Starting at the northern endpoint in Cedar Falls, the first section of the trail runs from Main street at...	IA	8 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
	Waverly Rail Trail The Waverly Rail Trail offers a pleasant, small town–meets-rural experience as it travels for 7.6 miles from downtown Waverly to its eastern endpoint north of Denver. It is also part of the Rolling...	IA	7.6 mi	Asphalt	6 reviews
	Cedar Prairie Trail The Cedar Prairie Trail is an important component of the extensive trail system in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The paved pathway runs between the South Riverside Trail at Waterloo Road and the Sergeant Road...	IA	7.9 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	2 reviews
	Denver-Jefferson Trail The Denver-Jefferson Trail, also known as the Jefferson City Trail, offers a short north-south connector between the Waverly Rail Trail and the small city of Denver in eastern Iowa. At its southern...	IA	1.8 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
	Grant Wood Trail (Linn County Segment) Running along a former railroad corridor in Linn County, the Grant Wood Trail is being developed in phases. The trail is named for the early 20th-century Iowa artist, perhaps best known for his...	IA	14.3 mi	Asphalt, Grass, Gravel	7 reviews
	Iowa 330/US 30 Trail The Iowa 330/US 30 Trail stretches from just west of the small town of Melbourne to the outskirts of Marshalltown, the largest city and county seat of Marshall County, located close to the geographic...	IA	11.1 mi	Concrete	5 reviews

Accordion

Linn Creek Recreational Trail As it runs directly through the heart of Marshalltown in central Iowa, access to the Linn Creek Recreational Trail is easy for many of the city's residents. They will want to take advantage of it,...	IA	10 mi	Asphalt	8 reviews
Old Creamery Nature Trail The Old Creamery Nature Trail, running between Vinton and Dysart, is so named for the Old Creamery Theater Company building in Garrison, another tiny farm community through which the trail passes. The...	IA	15.3 mi	Cinder, Crushed Stone, Gravel	5 reviews
Pine Lake Trail The Pine Lake Trail runs through a heavily wooded state park of the same name, which is especially known for its 250-year-old white pine trees. The trail begins at Deer Park, a half mile east of...	IA	2.4 mi	Concrete	3 reviews
Pioneer Trail (IA) Central Iowa's Pioneer Trail—which gets its name from the early settlers of Grundy County—is built on a former rail line that once connected the towns of Holland and Reinbeck and the communities in...	IA	11.5 mi	Crushed Stone	3 reviews
Readlyn Grump Trail The Readlyn Grump Trail offers a 6-mile paved path across Bremer County with views of open fields, several streams, and a bridge over Quarter Section Run. It begins at the terminus for the Waverly...	IA	6.3 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
Wolf Creek Trail (IA) The Wolf Creek Trail begins in Gladbrook, a small city about 70 miles northeast of Des Moines. The trail was established in 2001 by volunteers from the Gladbrook community who secured the right-of-way...	IA	2.6 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	3 reviews
Boyson Trail The tranquil, tree-lined Boyson Trail runs along Indian Creek and Dry Creek in western Marion. The crushed limestone trail connects neighborhoods, shopping areas, and several parks (north to south):...	IA	3.4 mi	Crushed Stone	1 reviews
Comet Trail The Comet Trail is built upon an abandoned right-of-way of the old Chicago Northwestern Railroad. It runs for 7 miles between the town of Conrad (City Park) and just east of Beaman, traversing a...	IA	7 mi	Crushed Stone, Grass	3 reviews
12th Street Trail The 12th Street Trail, occasionally referred to as the Pheasant Ridge Trail after the golf course it runs next to, is a wide concrete sidepath that stretches from Hudson Road to Union Road on the...	IA	1.51 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
1st Street Trail Cedar Falls, Iowa is well known for being home to regional treasures like the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail, but what really makes the city special is its trail network. Miles of dedicated sidepaths, park...	IA	1.6 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
218 Trail Named for the U.S. Highway that the trail follows, the 218 Trail is far from the most scenic trail in the Waterloo area's impressive trail network, but it does form a very important connection in that...	IA	1.43 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
CEMAR Trail The CeMar Trail between Cedar Rapids and Marion, in eastern Iowa, continues to take shape. As of 2023, there are over five miles open for use. The trail was pitched in 1992 and it took a decade to see...	IA	5.4 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
Cedar Heights Drive Trail A short sidepath trail built along the side of its namesake roadway, the Cedar Heights Drive Trail provides a useful connection between the longer University Avenue Trail and the Greenhill Trail,...	IA	0.6 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Donald Street Trail Waterloo's Donald Street Trail is a concrete sidepath trail that helps to connect parks and neighborhoods in the city's northern edge with the area's trail network, enabling cyclists, joggers and...	IA	2.54 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Edgewood Trail The Edgewood multiuse trail connects residents along Edgewood Road to the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The concrete trail sits in the grassy margin of the road, and stretches from O Avenue...	IA	1.2 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Ellis Trail Ellis Trail gets you as close to the Cedar River as you can get without getting your feet wet. The paved path traces the west bank of the river, running for over three miles one-way, with a sidewalk...	IA	3.5 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	0 reviews
Greenhill Trail Forging a link between the South Riverside Trail (and the smaller, unpaved Trolley Trail) on one end and the Cedar Prairie Trail on the other, the Greenhill Trail is a key component in the expansive...	IA	4.68 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Grundy County Lake Trail The Grundy County Lake Trail circles its namesake 40-acre lake, where outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, boating, and many other recreational opportunities. The paved trail then continues north,...	IA	3 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
Hudson Road Trail A multi-use sidepath that runs from University Avenue to 1st Street in Cedar Falls, the Hudson Road Trail helps provide off-road access to the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, and forms an...	IA	2.22 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Manchester Walkway/Bikeway Trails The Manchester Walkway/Bikeway Trails are a network of concrete paths that form a disconnected circuit around the small city of Manchester, Iowa. The pathway provides a great opportunity for cyclists...	IA	3.5 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Trail Built along the side of the roadway, the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Trail takes you from right outside the heart of Waterloo's urban riverside area into acres of beautiful, open Iowa farmland,...	IA	3.54 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Prairie Lakes Trail A lovely concrete and asphalt path that traverses through a pleasant, tree-lined corridor in the southern edge of Cedar Falls, the Prairie Lakes Trail offers plenty of means of recreation and serves...	IA	3.4 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
Riverside Trail (IA) Charles City's Riverside Trail runs for a little over a mile along the banks of the Cedar River, providing gorgeous views and recreational opportunities, as well as access to several city...	IA	1.2 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
Riverview Recreation Area Trail Connecting Waterloo's urban center with a popular recreation area that supports the local ATV community, the Riverview Recreation Area Trail forms a vital link in the area's multi-use trail network...	IA	2.7 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Shaulis Road Trail The Shaulis Road Trail is a ten-foot wide concrete trail that runs along the side of Shaulis Road in the sparsely populated southern edge of Waterloo, IA. The trails runs over gentle, rolling hills,...	IA	5.59 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
South Tama Recreation Trail The South Tama Recreation Trail connects the adjacent towns of Tama and Toledo in Tama County, Iowa. The original section of the trail, a 1 mile stretch built on an abandoned railroad corridor, opened...	IA	5.6 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt	0 reviews
Sweet Water Creek Trail The Sweet Water Creek Trail provides an alternative way for Tripoli residents to access Sweet Marsh Wildlife Management Area without driving. The trail extends two miles from the heart of the city and...	IA	2 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
Trolley Trail (Waterloo) Black Hawk County’s Trolley Trail, also known as the Trolley Car Trail, runs for less than 2 miles in western Waterloo. The trail is the lone vestige of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern...	IA	1.4 mi	Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel	0 reviews
UNI Preserve Trail Right in the heart of the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, the UNI Preserve Trail offers a shockingly scenic trek through prairie and woodland, giving students the opportunity to escape into...	IA	0.8 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
US 63 Trail Constructed on the west side of the four-lane highway that gives it its name, the US 63 Trail offers a surprisingly pleasant means of traversing the busy corridor on foot or bike. While many sidepath...	IA	0.8 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Union Road Trail Picking up from the end of the 1st Street Trail, the Union Road Trail continues the network of multi-use sidepath trails on the western edge of Cedar Falls, serving as the western section of a...	IA	1.01 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
University Avenue Trail Installed in 2018 as part of a major overhaul of the adjacent roadway, the University Avenue Trail provides convenient access to destinations on the corridor that were previously impossible to reach...	IA	3.1 mi	Concrete	0 reviews

Recent Trail Reviews

Sergeant Road Trail

Good trail

September, 2024 by dpate

This is another great trail in the Cedar Valley Trail system. It’s a smooth trail and though it runs near a road the noise is not deafening. I enjoyed this trail and I rate it 5 stars. Traveling cyclist Facebook

Cedar Valley Lakes Trail

Trail closed

September, 2024 by dpate

I wanted to ride the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail while I was in the area. I started from Deerwood Road near Deerwood Park. I rode about 4 miles until 11th street where the trail was closed. I crossed the river north of there and rode a trail on the other side of the river which was also closed at 11th street. Doing research I am not sure if it is all closed or not. I will return in the future and hope this will be open. Traveling cyclist Facebook

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Kind of rough

September, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

In early September 2024 I started this Cedar Valley Trail in Evansdale and headed south. The trail was paved but it has a lot of big perpendicular cracks and little sink spots that detract from the enjoyment. Too bad they haven't paint marked the bad spots that you cannot see when they're in shadow. It is one of the rougher trails I have ridden and I was begging for it to turn into crushed stone. At Miller Creek Road the trail was closed. I believe it's where the much wanted gravel section would have started. I think they are paving the gravel parts so the new parts should be good when completed. I was anxious to ride this trail but I was a little let down by the condition and the closing. 4 stars for surface condition.
Traveling cyclist
Facebook

Accordion

Evansdale Nature Trail

Nice trail

September, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

I discovered this trail after connecting from the Gilbert Drive Trail. It is a great little trail.
Traveling cyclist
Facebook

Gilbert Drive Trail

Good connector

September, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

I started this trail at Deerwood Park and rode it to the connection to the Evansdale Trail and back. I noticed going east on the south side it has a sign bike trail ONE WAY and vice versa in the north side heading west. 5 stars for this shorty. Traveling cyclist Facebook

Waverly Rail Trail

Nice trail

August, 2024 by dpate

I rode this trail in mid May 2024. There was a bridge being replaced without a detour around. I would guess about five miles out of Waverly. I then went to Denver and rode the other way to the closure. It’s a good trail that could by now be complete again so I plan to return soon. 5 stars Traveling cyclist Facebook

Charley Western Recreational Trailway

Great trail!

August, 2024 by dpate

I have ridden this trail twice. If I lived in Charles City I would ride it everyday. It is a great trail that I recommend highly. Traveling cyclist Facebook

Rolling Prairie Trail

best and worst trail

August, 2024 by kg4duke_tl

Road 38.5 miles on the Rolling Prairie trail. Started in Hampton and road to Shell Rock. Trail is divided into three sections that can be connected by using paved and gravel roads. Would not recommend riding from Hampton to Dumont. Someone thought it a good idea to use large gravel for several long sections of the trail. I have a gravel bike and it was a challenge. Trail is poorly marked and closed in one section and I had to find a work around on gravel roads. Worst section of a bike trail I’ve ever ridden in Iowa and I’ve ridden 34 so far. The good news is from Allison to Shell Rock is paved and well marked.

Great American Rail-Trail

West bound from Ellensburg. August 2024

August, 2024 by tastesbadtobears

We ( recumbent trike & e-bike) headed West from the Kiwanis park. Turned around after 9km as the surface was really tough on the trike. There’s 2 good wheel tracks for bikes, but the trike had to ride partially in the coarse trail ballast. Scenic area with farm views and a huge windmill farm in the distance.

Big Woods Trail (IA)

Nice trail around lake. Then rode down to Cedar falls & follow S. riverside trail (west side of river) down to John Deere museum in waterloo. Round trip approx 20 miles.

July, 2024 by tv79moo

Nice trail around lake. Then rode down to Cedar falls & follow S. riverside trail (west side of river) down to John Deere museum in waterloo. Round trip approx 20 miles.

Linn Creek Recreational Trail

pretty nice

December, 2023 by cthibalt

Rode this trail in December seems really nice to me. I almost didn’t go because of the negative reviews, I guess these items have been repaired because I had no complaints.

Old Creamery Nature Trail

A great opportunity to get away from the stresses of modern life

November, 2023 by jkbalk

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.

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