April 2026 Trail News
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
Construction of the Cherokee Trail continues towards the Cedar River.
Phase 3 from Westwood Drive NW to 13th Street NW, will be on the south side of F Avenue NW. The project will be bid this summer, and the construction start in the fall of 2026.
Phase 5 from the intersection of Midway Drive NW and Johnson Avenue NW travels to the intersection of F Avenue NW and Westwood Drive NW. This route is under review. One possible route is to go north of the Vinton Ditch to E Ave then up 24th Street to F Ave. The city is also planning a trail from 24th to 29th on F Ave to connect more neighborhoods to the Cherokee Trail.
Phase 4 will go from 13th Street to downtown. The trail will likely go on the north side of F Ave NW. Construction has been delayed at least until 2028 due to environmental requirements for the BUILD Grant. https://www.cedar-rapids.org/news_detail_T6_R2274.php
CeMar Trail UPDATES
Exciting news - In 2026 the CeMar Trail will be complete! Work this summer includes creating abutments for the 3 bridges over Indian Creek, placing the premade bridges and building a hard surface trail. As we approach that goal, we will plan a “gold spike” ceremony to match this long-awaited Marion to Cedar Rapids Trail!
Let’s Keep Our Trails Beautiful
Recently, LCTA sponsored a trail clean-up. We had a successful event in 3 areas of Linn County. With team leaders, Steve Hershner, Kyle Lundberg and Nikki Northrup, we had 42 volunteers (well done trail fans!) and picked up 46 large bags of trash…and a baby bed and vacuum cleaner!
Two of the many volunteers to help were Matt Knight & Tiff Cremer, who have started a group, Trail Cleaning Bicyclists (TCB) of Linn County to encourage trail clean-up on a monthly basis, year-round.
The litter cleanup lasts for around 30 minutes, and Matt and Tiff handle the rest. Matt provides garbage bags (from Cedar Rapids City Manager & Solid Waste Dept) has grabbers, bags, gloves and a bike trailer. The idea is that people could make a litter cleanup part of their bike ride. Arrive on your bike, help for 30 minutes and ride off.
The Details: Once a month Matt posts a ½ mile segment to meet at with a time--generally a Sunday at 1 pm. Find the locations on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/tcb_trailcleaningbicyclists/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620832949170595/ How easy TCB of Linn County has made this?! You can help keep the trails you use, clean!
Matt encourages people to focus on areas nearest the trail; especially as the foliage (along with ticks and poison ivy) start to fill in. That’s not a bad way to contribute to a more pleasant trail and a nicer community. LCTA hopes you will consider being a part of this opportunity to give back, led by Matt and Tiff.
Saturday Afternoon Ride- Sag Wagon to Lowe Park
Sag Wagon to Lowe Park Trail Connections Ride
24 miles, trails, streets, nature, stops to eat/drink
Nikki Northrop-contributor
Are you looking for a nice Saturday afternoon ride or something that will get you out and about and not take all day? This route is for you.
Starting at Sag Wagon area (red dot)…there is parking on street or at the shelter near the lake. You can start with a beverage or food at Sag Wagon, a local hangout for cyclists and music lovers. Going North, head out to the Cedar River Trail. You will ride next to the stream up to Center Point Road where you will cross at 51st , near Pedalers Fork** and ride on the road++ up to Council. Cross Council and take the sidewalk in front of the Marcus Theaters, and link with the Grant Wood Trail there.
Follow this trail for 2 miles to C Ave, cross at the light and continue on trail behind the gas station. (Bathroom break or water here) This trail is a great one for nature, deer, runners and walkers, and leads into Marion and the Milwaukee Bridge Trail. You will not go over the bridge, but veer left down a hill and take the left at the creek towards Donnely Park and Lininger Parks. This hard trail winds next to a creek, behind Linn-Mar School and out to the Huntington Creek Golf Course.
The trail ends at the course and there is low traffic residential streets to continue north approximately 1 mile to Connection Ave. Left on Connection Avenue and you may ride the wide sidewalk or stay on street up to Alburnett Rd and the entrance to Lowe park. Glide through the many sculptures at Lowe Park, great for photos! Butterflies, Swirly Whirly, Native American /Buffalo silhouettes and more. Exit Lowe Park at Irish, and proceed toward the Marion YMCA to Tower Terrace Rd. Take a right onto the wide trail along Tower Terrace. This is a long uninterrupted trail and gives rolling hill views. You will end at a roundabout on C Ave.
Retrace back to the Marion YMCA on Tower Terrace, and instead of turning left and going back through Lowe Park, continue East on Tower Terrace to 10th Street. At 10 street and Linn Mar school take a right and go south towards the Linniger Park Trail and retrace that part of the route back through the Grant Wood Trail/Lindale Trail, to Marcus Theaters and to Pedalers Fork. To the Cedar River Trail. Approx 24m
Other options to add a few more miles include taking a side loop to Thomas Park or traveling east on the Grant Wood Trail into Marion for a coffee/restaurant stop.
For more route details check out the OnTheGoMap https://onthegomap.com/s/dp9mps21
Bike to Work Week May 11-16.
Check out this link for details including bingo cards and ways to volunteer for Commute Ride leaders. https://cedar-rapids.org/residents/parks_and_recreation/trails_and_bikeways/index.php
Please thank our sponsors!
Event Calendar
April 25- Ecofest at Newbo 10-3 pm
April 25- Rails to Trails Day
May 9- Pedals and Petals Bike Ride https://pedalsandpetalsride.com/
May 11-17 Bike to Work Week – see details above
May 16- Marion Arts Festival 5K Half Marathon https://corridorrunning.com/marion-arts-festival
May 20- Ride of Silence 6-7:30 pm meet at Marion Square Park
June 7- Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend https://cedarrapidsmarathon.com/
June 13 - Ride the District - 9:30 AM Starts and ends at: Anderson Bogert | 4050 River Center Court NE, Cedar Rapids
Sept 6- NewBo 10K/Half Marathon
