Cedar Valley Trails Partnership

City of Waterloo is adding green bike lanes to Park Avenue. Please review the additional information in these handouts.

🎉 Member Appreciation Event 🎉

Join us for an evening of music at the Live to 9 event on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.! We want to thank you for your support, which helps us maintain local trails.

📍 Location: Second State Brewing, 203 State Street, Cedar Falls, IA

Stop by our station to:

* Sign up to win a Cedar Valley Trails Raygun T-shirt

* Current members: Pick up a packet of trail mix and a free beer token

* Not a member yet? Renew or join now to get a free beer token and support your local trails!

See you there! 🍻🏃‍♂️🚴‍♂️

Black Hawk County Conservation will reopen Black Hawk Park for day use only tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17. Please stay clear of the park while they complete their clean up efforts.

We just can't catch a break with Black Hawk Park! The park did receive storm damage last night & staff is working on cleaning up. The park will be open for DAY USE ONLY beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17th. The campgrounds are going to remain closed through the weekend & we will have an update on those next week. Please share this post & Thank You for your patience!

We are excited to announce that the new Cedar River Recreational Area will be named Gateway Water Trail!

It was crowned the winner after receiving more than 50 percent of the community vote. We thank everyone who took part in this exciting new chapter in history. Learn more about the name selection and the Cedar River Recreational Project at bit.ly/GatewayWT! 🌊

Second State Brewing released Trail to Hoppiness just hours ago. Nick nailed the perfect amount of hoppiness on this beer! Some cans of Trail to Hoppiness will be available tomorrow at the Bridges Ride or get some freshly tapped at Second State Brewing tonight. Thanks Nick at Second State Brewing for support the trails.

Remember we have Trail to Hoppiness shirts available online - https://www.rayguncustom.com/collections/cedar-valley-trails-partnership/products/cedar-valley-trails-trail-to-hoppiness-shirt
Proceeds go to the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership to help improve our local trail system.

*Paved Trail Conditions*: Minor flooding on the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail in spots between 218 and before Canfield Shelter in George Wyth State Park. There is a spot on the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail right after you past the road to the campground that is about knee deep. Also, a few spots in Black Hawk Park. Feel free to comment if you run into any other flooded trail areas.

Congratulations to CVAST, Trails Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, George Wyth State Park and Cedar Valley Trails Partnership winners of the John Milton Overman Quality of Life Award. Here is the story by Cedar Falls Channel 15 - https://youtu.be/MKEWGrQyWR8

Thank you, Cedar Valley residents, for your support in making our trails system one of the best in the nation!

Cedar Falls Business and Industry Awards 2024: CEDAR TRAILS CEDAR TRAILS QUALITY OF LIFE

Cedar Valley Nature Trail Update 👉 https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Black-Hawk/News/1690/Cedar-Valley-Nature-Trail-Closers-Updates.aspx

Join the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership and the Cedar Valley Cyclists for a trail ride on May 8th to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Great American Rail-Trail. The ride will begin at Overman Park. The Cedar Valley Cyclists are a group of cycling enthusiasts and the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership advocates for the trails. Come celebrate 5 years of the Great American Rail-Trail! Post ride social location will be announced prior to the beginning of the ride.

This is a free event open to anyone who wants to ride. Riders must wear helmets, bikes must have front white light and rear red light. Please sign a ride waiver at cedarvalleycyclists.org. Waivers will also be available at Overman Park.

More details on the event in this link: https://cedarvalley365.com/?imgoing-event=great-american-rail-trail-5th-anniversary-bike-ride-662028b382186052648bfd8c

What About E-bike Trail Usage?

» Electric bicycles are generally allowed on multi-use paths and trails. However, local governments may restrict or limit the use on multi-use paths or trails so check local policies and regulations.

» Any natural surface trail that is designated as open to both motorized and non-motorized uses is also open to E-bikes.

» E-bikes may be restricted on trails designated for non-motorized activities.

» People riding Class 3 electric bicycles on trails or multi-use paths must not exceed the posted speed limit, or if there is no posted speed limit, 20 miles per hour.

» The Cedar Valley Trails Partnership Board of Directors requests that E-bike operators, as well as all trail users, self-adopt these simple guidelines while using the trails:

1. Ride Responsibly and Respect other trail users always.
2. Travel at a speed that is reasonable for the conditions at the moment and that will allow every other trail user to be comfortable and safe.
3. Loudly announce in advance whenever overtaking another trail user.
4. Yield right of way and half of the trail willingly.
5. Never treat your right to the trail as superior to the rights of another trail user.

» If in doubt, ask the local land manager about specific policies and instructions.

» Ride responsibly, legally and on authorized trails to show that E-bikers are responsible trail users.

Prairie Lakes Trail fundraiser

Prairie Lakes Trail - Improvement

Cedar Valley Nature Trail Update and Closure Notice

Black Hawk County is continuing to improve the southern portion of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Black Hawk and Buchanan Counties. Phase 2 of the project including correction of erosion issues, improving functionality of several smaller culverts, installation of ADA detectable warnings at roadway crossings and asphalt paving the 10’ wide trail for approximately 9.4 miles including gravel roadway crossings.
The culvert work associated with this phase is expected to begin Monday, October 19, 2023. The Cedar Valley Nature Trail will be closed beginning October 19, 2023, from Deacon Avenue to Carter Avenue near Brandon.
For the safety of the public and the contractors, various trail closures will be posted as construction progresses. Please watch for trail closure updates on the Black Hawk County Conservation’s website (www.blackhawkcountyparks.com) and page. Please avoid the closed areas and obey ALL trail closure signage.

Join us on October 24th from 6-8pm at Hartman Reserve Nature Center to share ideas for how Iowa’s statewide funding program for outdoor recreation and conservation can assist our county and communities.

The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail between 18th Street in Waterloo and Evansdale was opened today.

Also, another short time trail closure:

On Monday, September 11th, 2023, the City of Cedar Falls will be closing two sections of Cedar Prairie Trail off of South Main Street near Oregon Road and Paw Park for maintenance that is being completed by the Cedar Falls Public Works Operation and Maintenance Division. This maintenance work will take 3 to 5 days to be completed and includes minor concrete work. Please avoid these areas and take alternative routes while the maintenance is underway.

Trail Closure Notice - Start of Cedar River Recreation Project

Starting on Monday, September 11, the City's contractor, PCI, will be starting the Cedar River Recreational Project by closing the recreational trail located in Gateway Park. An overall trail detour will be signed and established utilizing Greeley Street and Lincoln Street. The detour is anticipated to be in place for the next year as crews work to build the in-river features and upland improvements. Below you will find a map with the closure area highlighted.

For safety's sake, please stay away from the construction area. Heavy equipment will be moving back and forth on the closed sections of trail and in the park along the riverbank.

CVTP Trails to Hoppiness shirt isn’t available on Raygun’s website but … We had such high demand for the shirt that RAYGUNshirts made us a custom store webpage with even more to choose from. Here is the link - https://www.rayguncustom.com/collections/cedar-valley-trails-partnership Trail to Hoppiness is available for bike and beer enthusiast. Tryin Catch Me, Ridin Dirty for soft trail bikers and young adults from the 90’s. Leave the Roads, Take the Trails quote by Pythagoras for the older wiser trail aficionado. Bike the Cedars for those that make the trek from Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids. All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to improve the trails in the Cedar Valley.

Do you want to support the Cedar Valley Trails and get a rad Raygun shirt in the process? Well, here you go -https://www.raygunsite.com/products/trail-to-hoppiness. More shirts to come... Huge thanks to RAYGUNshirts for partnering with Cedar Valley Trails!

We just received word the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail will be closed at George Wyth Campground and George Wyth Lodge to Krieg's Crossing starting June 14, 2023 until the project is completed by September 30, 2023. The trail is CLOSED TO ALL TRAIL USERS during this time. Do not go around fencing, signs or cut fencing into these areas. All TRAIL USERS will need to use South Riverside Trail to connect to Waterloo.

The asphalt will be removed and replaced with concrete and the trail will be 10' wide vs the 8' it currently is.

This project is funded by Covid 19 Relief Recreational Trail Grant, Cedar Valley Trails Partnership and private donations.

With over 130 miles, this is a great opportunity to discover other trails in our trail system! Our trails are also part of two national trails the Great American Rail-Trail and the American Discovery Trail.
View the print and interactive Cedar Valley Trails & Recreational guide on our website to plan your adventure! Enjoy the ride!

The Bridges Ride was a huge success this year with more than 300 riders in attendance. Weather started out a little clouded but that keep it cooler outside for the morning ride. Bob Dorr started rocking, sun came out, delicious smells were emanating from Hungry Charlie's Food Truck and people were connecting. Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and most importantly the riders that participated in the event. We really do have a amazing bicycling community in the Cedar Valley. Hope to see you all next year!