The Cedar Valley Trails system offers more than 130 miles of connected paved recreational trails throughout Cedar Falls and the surrounding region. The network connects visitors to downtown districts, parks, breweries, restaurants, riverfront areas, natural spaces, and neighboring communities, making it one of the area’s defining outdoor experiences.
Visitors can bike, walk, or run through scenic river corridors, wooded areas, college-town neighborhoods, and community gathering spaces while enjoying an easy and accessible way to explore the region. Cedar Falls was Iowa’s first designated Trails Town, and the trail system plays a major role in the city’s outdoor culture.
Whether planning a long-distance bike ride, a casual evening walk, or a weekend trail adventure, the Cedar Valley Trails create an easy way to experience Cedar Falls and beyond.
INDIVIDUAL TRAILS
Ulrich Park Trail
Soft Trail
A 101-acre nature preserve offers a parking lot, riverfront access and trails.
UNI Preserve Trail
Hard Surface
0.8 miles
The UNI Preserve Trail helps link students and the larger community.
West 1st Street Trail
Hard Surface
1.5 miles
The West 1st Street Trail is a 1.5-mile, multi-use, side path trail connecting Hudson Road with Union Road in the northwest side Cedar Falls.
West 12th Street Trail
Hard Surface
1.5 miles
The trail is a multi-use side path that runs east/west from Hudson Road to Union Road in Cedar Falls.
University Avenue Trail
Hard Surface
5 miles
A long sidepath trail that connects west Cedar Falls with Downtown Waterloo.
Union Road Trail
Hard Surface
2 miles
The Union Road Trail is a two-mile side path trail in Cedar Falls connecting W. 1st Street and W. 27th Street.
South Riverside Trail
Hard Surface
7 miles
Trail runs along the Cedar River.
Prairie Lakes Trail
Hard Surface
2.2 miles
A lovely path that traverses through a tree-lined corridor that loops around Prairie Lakes.
Lone Tree Road Trail
Hard Surface
2.1 miles
Two mile stretch of trail in the North Cedar neighborhood.
Hudson Road Trail
Hard Surface
2 miles
A multi-use side path that runs from University Avenue to 1st Street along Hudson Road in Cedar Falls.
Greenhill Trail
Hard Surface
6.7 miles
An east/west arterial trail connecting to shopping and recreational trails on the south side of Cedar Falls. It connects with the Cedar Prairie Trail in Cedar Falls, and in the east, with South Riverside Trail in Waterloo.
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Hard Surface
67 miles
A historic rail trail running 67 miles through Eastern Iowa.
Cedar Valley Lakes Trail
Hard Surface
16.4 miles
The longest trail in the Cedar Valley Trails System, this trail stretches from north Cedar Falls all the way to Evansdale, connecting with the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.
Cedar Prairie Trail
Hard Surface
8.3
The trail runs through suburban areas and natural greenways.
Big Woods Trail
Hard Surface
2.5 miles
Trail runs from the Cedar Valley Lakes trail on the south end at Gateway Park to the Lone Tree Road Trail at the northern end and loops around Big Woods Lake for about a mile and a half.
Cedar Valley Trails
The Cedar Valley Trails system features more than 130 miles of connected paved trails linking Cedar Falls with parks, riverfront areas, downtown districts, and surrounding communities.