Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Trail overview:
Length: just under 52 miles
Surface: asphalt at both ends (16 miles on northern end and 4 miles on southern end) with crushed limestone in the middle (a majority of the trail)
Hours: year-round, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Black Hawk and Buchanan Counties; 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Linn and Benton Counties
Fees: none
Counties: Black Hawk, Buchanan, Benton, Linn
Cities: Evansdale, Gilbertville, La Porte City, Brandon, Urbana, Center Point, Lafayette, Hiawatha
Connecting trails: Cedar Valley Lakes Trail
Uses: hiking, nature viewing, biking, cross-country skiing, skating from Evansdale to McFarlane Park
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Trail overview:
This linear park follows a route through the Cedar River bottomlands, along forested banks of the river and across fields where stands of trees are punctuated by open vistas. CVNT is an excellent place to observe wildflowers and abundant wildlife. Deer, woodchucks, wild turkey, and songbirds are among the creatures sighted along the trail. The northern part of the trail (about 25 miles) is a designated Important Bird Area, where various birds have been sighted. The northern stretch of the trail also includes pocket prairies or areas of native remnant prairies. Brush and other invasives have been cut back, and fire has been introduced to help rejuvenate these areas.
Historical landmarks, large and small communities, archaeological sites and two restored railroad depots also add character to the trail. CVNT connects to the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. The trail has an asphalt surface from Evansdale to McFarlane Park.
Important: Following the 2008 floods, many changes have taken place. Please review the map of closures before you plan your visit to CVNT. These closures will likely be in place at least through summer of 2010.
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Trailhead maps on this site:
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Resources from other sites:
- Trails from Rails
This site has an overall map showing the trail surface, towns and mileage between towns. It also has a helpful grid listing each trail town with contact information for selected amenities, such as hotels and restaurants. You’ll also find some trail photos.
- GORP
This site contains a detailed description and key facts about the trail, such as elevation change, hazards and land status. There’s also a trail map and contact information for the trail owners/managers.
- Linn County Conservation
Linn County Conservation owns/manages the portions of this trail in Linn County. Their site includes a brief description, a PDF map, photos and great links to other Linn County parks and nature attractions.
- Dirt World
This site is geared toward mountain bikers and discusses the trail from that point of view. It offers an interactive aspect for those that visit it. While it still has the regular trail description and some other details such as type of ride, elevation gain and skill level, it also allows riders to add their own comments about the trail.
- Iowa Audubon Important Bird Areas Program
The northern part of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail is a designated Important Bird Area. Here you can find general information on the Important Bird Area program in Iowa, including criteria and bird sightings.
- iowaytrail.org
This website offers information on the Ioway Trail, including a description of the master plan, a list of participating trails, events, and contact information.
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For local information:
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