Type: Rail Trail
Length: 51 miles
Surface: Mix
Over half the 51 mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail is blacktop and works well for road bikes, skaters, etc. There are 16 miles of crushed limestone surface between the McFarland Bridge south of La Porte City to Urbana. In 2022 Black Hawk and Linn County Conservation received grant money to complete the paving of this section in the near future.
Condition
Average
Grade - Flat
Amenities
Description
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail (CVNT) runs
from Hiawatha to Evansdale & follows the Cedar River Flood Plain. Over half the 52 mile CVNT is blacktop/concrete and works well for road
bikes, skaters, etc. There is 16 miles between the McFarland Bridge south of La Porte City to Urbana that is crushed stone / gravel. In 2022 Black Hawk and Linn County Conservation received grant money to help complete the paving of this section. Plans are pending.
This 2013 high speed POV video playlist takes us from
Hiawatha to Evansdale in seven stages covering the whole 52 miles. It even
includes a visit to fabled lost city of Brandon :-)
Part of the Linn County Trails System.
Click through to YouTube for Playlist navigation.
Best viewed in 1080p HD or Original resolution if you have a fast connection & video acceleration.
The entire trail is road bike friendly (2013) although the section around Brandon is a bit rough as you can see in the Urbana to Brandon video. There are access points with parking, water, and bathroom facilities 10 miles or less apart. Campgrounds are located at McFarlane Park and Deerwood Park. At the south trailhead the CVNT provides access to the Cedar River Trail system in Cedar Rapids and to the north access to Waterloo/Cedar Falls via the extensive Cedar Valley Trails system.
The Wolf Creek Bridge at La Porte City has been completed reconnecting Cedar Rapids to Evansdale.
Location - Where is this Trail?
Between Cedar Rapids & Waterloo Iowa
Trailheads
- Hiawatha
- Center Point
- Urbana
- Brandon
- McFarlane Park
- LaPorte City
- Gilbertville
- Evansdale
Sites & Attractions
- Small towns
- River Views
- Birds & Wildlife
- Buzzard's Glory Quarry
History of the Trail
The
trail follows the route of the Waterloo Cedar Falls & Northern Railway’s
(WCF&N) Cedar Valley road. This
electric railroad ran from the early 20th century through the 1960’s. You can see well preserved depots at
Center Point & Gilbertville. The Gilbertville Depot is a beautiful spot along the trail to take a break. The restroom is open from sunrise to sunset during the summer months. More history here: Waterloo Cedar Falls & Northern Railway
The Cedar Valley Nature Trail follows the fertile Cedar River between Evansdale and Ely. The 52-mile trail comprises three former trails—the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Cedar River Trail and parts of the Hoover Nature Trail—which merged in Spring 2017.
Contributors
The following members have contributed to the above Trail content.
This trail was last edited by CedarFallsVisitor on Oct 3, 2022.