City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Parks Department

For maps visit:
www.linncountytrails.org

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department maintains several walking trails throughout the City. The trails wind through wood areas, shady parks, along streams, the Cedar River, and downtown Cedar Rapids. Most trails are surfaced with crushed limestone. The Cedar River Trail and Cedar Lake Loop Trail are asphalt and concrete and are kept open throughout the year. The crushed limestone trails are not cleared in the winter.

Cherokee Trail
This is a 1 mile trail located off Johnson Avenue between Edgewood Road and Wiley Boulevard NW. Parking is along Midway Drive on the trail's north side. Fitness stations and shady tree-lined stretches are features of this crushed limestone trail.

Cherry Hill Trail
This crushed limestone trail is .825 miles long. It is located on the west end of Cherry Hill Park on the City's northwest side. Most people access this trail off of Stony Point Road. A playground, two softball fields and the Cherry Hill pavilion are adjacent to this trail.

Noelridge Park Trail
One of the oldest trails in the park system, this popular trail is in Noelridge Park on the City's northeast side. The trail is 0.8 miles long. It regularly hosts fitness walks, walk-a-thons, and company fitness outings. Top off your visit to this trail by stopping to view the Noelridge Park Flower Gardens in late spring and summer, a game of tennis, or a visit to one of two playgrounds for the kids. This crushed limestone trail is best accessed off Council Street between Collins Road. and 42nd Street NE.

Nixon Park Trail
A .75 mile trail with very little grade change awaits users. The trail runs through Nixon Park and around Nixon School near Hiawatha on the City's northeast side. The trail is crushed limestone.

Sac and Fox Trail
(Due to June 2008 flood damage, the Sac and Fox Trail is not safe for use along any part of its 7.2 mile length. The trail may not reopen before fall of 2009.)
This is the oldest National Recreation Trail in Iowa. It is 7.2 miles in length and is crushed limestone. The trail follows the Cedar River and Indian Creek on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids. The popular Indian Creek Nature Center is located midway along the trail, about 1/2 mile south of the Mount Vernon Rd. and Betram Rd. intersection. There are numerous access points along the trail and abundant parking areas especially south out Mount Vernon Road. Scout troops can check with the Nature Center for details on how to earn the Sac and Fox Trail Patch. Equestrian use of this trail is permitted. Users are asked to clean up after themselves and to refrain from taking horses over the bridges. Low water crossings are provided near each bridge.

Cedar River Trail
(The Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department's portion of the Cedar River Trail, including the Cedar Loop Trail, was not damaged and is safe to use. However, Cedar River Trail south of the 16th Avenue bridge is not safe for use. This portion of the trail may not reopen before late summer of 2009.)
This all-weather trail now extends from Blairs Ferry Road NE through downtown Cedar Rapids to Highway 30 on the City's southwest side. This 10.8 mile trail is ten feet wide. Experience the sights and sounds of urban wildlife along McCloud's Run, Cedar Lake, and the Cedar River. The west side of Cedar Lake also provides access to the newly asphalted trail segment that encircles Cedar Lake. This is a 1.6 mile trail named the Cedar Lake Loop Trail. Parking for the loop trail is located on Shaver Road, south of the Interstate 380 crossover at H Ave. Parking for the Cedar River Trail is located at Tait Cummins Park on the south end, and at McCloud Run on the north end. Popularity of this trail is increasing daily as people discover its smooth surface and gentle grade changes. Please exercise caution, hold bicycle and roller blade speed to a reasonable minimum and practice trail courtesies posted along the trail.