Weekend all week, and every week, this winter!
Here are resources to help you find what you need for a day on the trails.
Trail Conditions
Find out what the trails are like after a snowfall.
CVAST Facebook Group Page
CVAST is the Cedar Valley Association for Soft Trails. They're a nonprofit dedicated to promoting, maintaining, and creating sustainable soft trails in the area for users of all types and abilities. Their group page is updated often with trail conditions. See their interview by KWWL in regards to winter trail use HERE.
Cedar Valley Trail Condition Facebook Group Page
Any trail enthusiast is welcome to share trail conditions of soft and hard-surfaced trails on this Facebook group page.
Cedar Valley Trails Partnership
The Cedar Valley Trails Partnership (CVTP) promotes the continued expansion and safe, year-round enjoyment of recreation trails in Black Hawk County, Iowa and surrounding communities. Anyone is welcome to share information and comment about local trail conditions.
Groomed Trails
Groomed trails help all winter sports enthusiasts enjoying Cedar Valley Trails.
George Wyth State Park
CVAST grooms singletrack (soft trails) in George Wyth State Park and Hartman Reserve. CVAST posts maps after trails have been groomed on their Facebook page. In January, they regularly groomed more than 18 miles of trails.
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
CVAST also grooms several soft trails in Hartman Reserve. In January, the trails included Sherwood, Houlihoop, Bullfrog and Nate. Visit the CVAST Facebook page to see the most recent map of groomed trails HERE.
Irv Warren Golf Course/Brynes Park
Waterloo Leisure Services grooms the ski trails for classical and skate skiing. Click HERE to see regular grooming reports from the Iowa Ski Trail Update. Cedar Valley Nordic Skiing also posts conditions regularly as well as information about FREE lessons. Anyone interested in signing up for ski lessons can do so by sending an email to xc.ski.wloo.cf@gmail.com. Let him know the level of lesson you need (beginner or intermediate) and whether you would like to have a lesson on the Classic technique or Skating technique.
The overall length of the ski trail at Irv Warren is 2.5 miles and you can view a map HERE or by visiting their Facebook page HERE.
Shoveled Trails
12.5 miles of our 110-mile Cedar Valley Trails system are shoveled to give walkers, runners and bikers additional winter recreation options. Shoveled areas are mainly in front of city-owned property near University Avenue. Always be cautious on shoveled trails as snow along the trail can drift and melt and refreeze causing black ice. The timeliness of snow removal varies depending on whether there are back to back weather events, weather conditions that make streets/parking lots a priority or even the need for bigger or additional equipment to clear trails after a large storm.
The following trails are shoveled:
•12th Street, from Hudson Road to Union Road
•Center Street, from Clair Street to Lone Tree Road
•Lone Tree Road, from Center Street to Hiawatha Road
•Trail connecting Pfeiffer Park to Waterloo Road
•Trail from Center Street Bridge to Main Street Bridge
•University Avenue from east city limit to College Street
•Hudson Road From 1st Street to 19th Street connecting to UNI trail
•Greenhill Road From 27th Street to east city limits (when conditions allow)
•Union Road from 1st Street to 12th Street (when conditions allow)
•1st Street from Union Road to Hudson Road (when conditions allow)
•Main Street from University to Paw Park
•Cedar Heights Dr from University Avenue to Viking Road (when conditions allow)
•View Cedar Falls Map Here
Rentals
Cross-country skis - CrawDaddy Outdoors in Waverly
Snowshoes - Hartman Reserve Nature Center and The Runner's Flat
Winter Trail Etiquette
To keep everyone safe on the trails, it's always important to use the correct tracks and correct trails for your winter sport. Snowshoe Magazine has published a helpful article of Trail Etiquette for Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking. Singletracks has also published an article of Fat Bike Etiquette: 10 Dos and Don'ts for Riding in the Snow.
View our local Winter Trails User Guide.
Fun and Helpful Links
Winter weather and activity safety for kids
Winter clothing guide
How to Adapt Trail Activities and Gear for Cold and Winter Conditions by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
KWWL story about local trails
Local Winter Fun blog
If you'd like more ideas of Things to Do and Places to Eat & Drink while you’re in Cedar Falls, contact the Cedar Falls Visitor Center at 319-268-4266 or stop in and see us at 6510 Hudson Road. Find events taking place this winter on our online calendar at CedarValley365.com.
