Hoover Nature Trail (Morning Sun) in Iowa

The Morning Sun section of the Hoover Nature Trail actually runs from a couple miles north of Morning Sun to just south of it on the small town's eastern edge. The trail is mostly surfaced with mowed grass and features a short restored railroad trestle over a creek.

When completed, the Hoover Nature Trail will run through 6 counties and 16 towns between Cedar Rapids and Burlington on an abandoned Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right-of-way. Along its journey, the trail will pass through a variety of landscapes, including woodlands, farmland, prairie and urban areas. Part of the trail will follow a bluff above the Iowa River.

The trail is named for President Herbert Hoover, who was born in West Branch—one of the many towns the abandoned corridor passes through. The trail currently includes 6 open sections, as well as the Flint River Trail, which occupies the southern portion of the corridor in Burlington for part of its route. For a complete overview of the trail, see the Hoover Nature Trail (Overview) page.

Parking and Trail Access

There are no dedicated parking lots for the trail, so consider parking on city streets in Morning Sun. As always, be mindful of any parking restrictions and respectful of the property of local landowners.

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Hoover Nature Trail (Morning Sun) Reviews

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Just east of town, there is dedicated parking by the town garage. Some railroad structures remain. You can ride a couple miles north on partly shaded trail. The path also goes a half mile south on grass covered gravel to the highway. The three mile segment running south from Columbus Junction not far from this section is very grassy and had some trees down. The Iowa State bike map shows it open.