Wanting to use a multi-surface trail? The Grant Wood Trail provides users with sections that are paved, have crushed limestone, and even a runners path. The Grant Wood Trail spans approximately 8.5 miles across five sections in Linn and Jones Counties with the gaps to be filled in the future. The trail is paved from west of 31st Street in Marion to Waldo’s Rock Park with a paving gap near Highway 13. From Waldo’s Park to the east, the trail surface is crushed limestone. There is another gap along Secrist Road from Oxley Road to Creekside Road. The trail continues east along Simmons Creek to Springville Road where there is a gap east to Alderman Road. The trail continues east to about 500 feet west of Linn Jones Road near Martelle. The trail picks back up in Martelle on South Street through town and continues west to 230th Avenue. The final section in Jones County runs from Highland Street to Resident Street.

Looking for a trail that is in touch with nature? Look no further! The Sac & Fox Trail is a 7.1-mile trail between the Prairie Park Fishery and East Post Road. This trail maneuvers alongside the Cedar River and Indian Creek. Trail users will be able to view wildlife and native environments along the majority of the trail. A unique aspect of this trail is that it is made from crushed limestone. Many trail users will want to wear hiking boots or use a mountain bike along this route.

The Cedar Valley Nature Trail (CVNT) is a 69 mile multi-use trail moving from Ely through Cedar Rapids and on to Waterloo passing through many small towns and pastoral scenes. Paved from Evansdale to 2.5 miles east of La Porte City with the rest of the trail being crushed limestone, easily ridable when dry.

The CVNT was Iowa’s first rail-to-trail conversion and follows the floodplain of the Cedar River through forested areas, wetlands, and rolling farmlands, with tree tunnels punctuated by open vistas. Campgrounds are located at McFarlane Park and in Black Hawk Park.

The southern end of the trail passes through the heart of Downtown Cedar Rapids including the neighborhoods of Czech Village and NewBo before ending in the charming community of Ely.

The CVNT is a key link of both The American Discovery Trail, America’s first coast-to-coast trail and the new Great American Rail Trail.

The American Discovery Trail is a collection of urban paved trails, crushed stone, quiet roadways, and wild traditional hiking trails. While the Great American Rail Trail is an effort by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to complete multi-use trails suitable for road bikes connecting Washington D.C. to Seattle, Washington.

Both trails are complete in Linn County. Because of the early trailblazing efforts from the Linn County Trails Association, our area was able to complete this wonderful, now 69-mile trail. Likely, the metro would not have been included in these national trails if it was not for the LCTA’s early work completing the CVNT.

Looking to enjoy a scenic trail that overlooks the Cedar River? The Ellis Trail is the one for you! The Ellis Trail has approximately 3 miles of paved trail from 1st Street NW, just north of F Ave NW, north along the scenic Cedar River to the intersection of Edgewood Road and Ellis Road. The trail follows the Cedar River through Ellis Park (home to Ellis Pool, Ellis Golf Course, several shelter houses, baseball/softball diamonds, Five Seasons Water Ski Show, and more), Ellis Harbor (home to houseboats and a boat ramp), and along Robbins Lake. There is a short on-street portion of the trail from Penn AVE NW to the entrance of Ellis Park.

Construction of the CeMar Trail is underway in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Shown below is the creation of a tunnel under 1st Ave by utilizing an abandoned rail passage. The CeMar Trail will connect Cedar Rapids at Cedar Lake (the Ce in CeMar) with Marion (Mar). Other areas under construction in 2021 include the repaving of any existing stone trails and construction of both trail bridges over Indian Creek and Marion Blvd/7th Ave – including a direct connection to Uptown Marion. In 2022/23 the final sections will be completed in the Faulkes Woods with a connector trail north toward the Lindale Mall area. Once complete, the CeMar will provide a connection between the metro’s two largest communities.

The Lindale Trail has some exciting upcoming phases! Currently, the Lindale Trail runs between C Ave NE to Boyson Trail in Marion, IA. It will extend from the Cedar Valley Nature Trail to the Boyson Trail in the next few years. To achieve this connection, construction will be done in phases. The first phase of this project will be from where it currently ends at C Ave NE to Council Street NE (by Oyama Sushi). The following phases will be between Council Street NE and Center Point Road NE and then tie into the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Upon completion, trail users will be able to travel between five cities in the Cedar Rapids Metro area!

Under construction, the Edgewood Trail follows Edgewood Rd from Hiawatha at Blairs Ferry Rd south to O Ave. This will include and all-important widening of the Edgewood Bridge helping cyclists and walkers avoid the busy roadway. Once complete in 2022/23 this trail will connect to the 42nd bike lane providing a connection to the Rock Island Botanical Preserve, the first segment of the Highway 100 Trail, Seminole Valley Park, and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail east at 42nd.

Looking for a trail that goes from an urban center to being immersed in nature? The Cherokee Trail is a must! Located in northwest Cedar Rapids, it now starts in Morgan Creek Park and passes through Cherry Hill Park, allowing cyclists, joggers, and walkers easy access to the 64-acre park containing an aquatic center, a story walk, and a playground. Future extensions of the Cherokee Trail will allow for a connection with the Ellis Trail just north of Interstate 380.