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More than one million people visit Coralville Lake each year. Take a trip to this 5,340-acre reservoir and you will see why it is so popular. Coralville Lake was originally designed in 1938 as a means for flood control. It officially opened in 1958 and soon became a recreation hotspot in Eastern Iowa.. Visitors can fish, camp, boat, swim, hike, and picnic. The lake is located approximately 10 miles south of Cedar Rapids. Call 319-338-3543 for more information.
Located just east of Coralville Lake, Lake McBride State Park was established prior to Coralville. Lake McBride was created in 1937 and covers more than 800 acres. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and swimming. Lake McBride State Park is located 12 miles south of Cedar Rapids. Call 319-624-2200 for further information.
Palisades Kepler State Park covers 840 acres and is situated along the Cedar River 12 miles east of Cedar Rapids. In the early 1900's, this area was a summer recreation community with a hotel, restaurant, general store, and dozens of summer cottages. The park was created in 1922 and its beautiful stone lodge was added in the 1930's. Visitors to the park can choose from a variety of activities such as camping, hiking, boating, picnicking, and fishing. Palisades Kepler State Park also offers a look into the past with its Indian mounds and fossilized rocks. For additional information call 319-895-6039.
Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area and its 1,500 acres offers a variety of recreation to its visitors. Pleasant Creek Lake covers more than 400 acres and has four boat launches, good fishing, and a beach area for swimming. There are 15 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Visitors will also find campgrounds and picnic areas at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. Pleasant Creek is located 15 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids. Call 319-472-5854 for additional information.
Indian Creek Nature Center and its 210 acres is the ideal outdoor classroom. Woodlands, prairie, wetlands, and forest are the areas you can view while hiking on the nature center’s trails. Other attractions include the butterfly garden, bat houses, bee hives, and a frog pond. The Indian Creek Nature Center’s Interpretive Center is located in a remodeled 1932 dairy barn. The Nature Center is located on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids where the Cedar River and Indian Creek meet. Call 319-362-0664 for more details.
Cedar Valley Nature Trail is a 52-mile trail that runs from Cedar Rapids to Waterloo. The trail opened in 1984 when an abandoned railroad track was converted to a crushed limestone trail. Cedar Valley Nature Trail is an all-seasons trail where people can walk, jog, bike, or even cross country ski when the weather is right. The trail is shaded during the summer months and offers scenic views as well as local wildlife. For more information about the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, call 319-398-5009.