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Park at Lake Macbride State Park (3525 Highway 382 NE) or at the Solon end near 1750 Racine Avenue (ample parking).
If you enjoy biking on non-paved trails, the Solon - Lake Macbride Recreation Trail is a five star trail. If you prefer wider, paved trails, then this is a four-star trail for you. I prefer paved trails but I wanted to explore this route, and I’m so glad I did! The difficult thing for me was the loose rock and the occasional ruts. I really had to pay attention to the path. But the best thing about this trail is the location. You ride through wooded areas and Prairie, and along the lake. It’s unbeatable for the view! Park at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area, where there is a huge parking lot. There are also restrooms there. The Hoover Nature Trail to Ely starts at the north end of the parking lot. This is where you go to catch the Solon - Lake MacBride Trail. After a couple miles of paved trail, you will see the starting point of this trail on the left, heading west. As noted the trail is crushed stone, but about halfway there is a short section where you ride on the park road before getting back to the crushed stone trail. The trail is mostly flat, but there are a few gentle hills on the east/beginning point. However at the west/end of the trail, there is a huge hill! If you are not used to climbing hills on this kind of trail, you might just want to turn around at the base of the hill. I rode this trail on a beautiful August Saturday morning and there was not a lot of traffic. There were a few people walking or jogging, mostly on the east end, but I had the rest of the trail basically to myself with the exception of 2 or 3 bicycles. If you’re riding with kids or if you are a naturalist at heart, there are some great places to pull over and sit at the lake or explore the Prairie.
A moderate level trail primarily because has some loose gravel and a few grade changes. Worth the trip along the lake and many beautiful wildflower prarie restorations. Doesn’t disappoint.
I've posted a review on my blog about this trail... check it out.
http://iowacitytrails.blogspot.com/2015/05/solon-lake-mcbride-trail.html
A very pleasant scenic trail that runs along Lake MacBride. The trail is crushed stone and well maintained. Bridges span the few creeks draining into MacBride. The trail is fairly flat with a few gentle grades There are informational stations describing the flora and fauna as well as newly installed benches. The trail is wide enough for bikers ,dog walkers(leash required), and joggers to occupy the same space. Cool breezes from the lake make even the hottest days tolerable. The trail has multiple access points, with an excellent roadside map at the entrance to MacBride State Park at the end of Hwy 382.
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