This morning I went for a lovely run along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail between Brandon and Hiawatha (just outside of Cedar Rapids.) This rails-to-trails project features relatively little in the way of elevation change as it runs from town to town along tree-line corridors and across farmers’ fields. Trailheads provide important services like restrooms, water, etc. along the trail, appearing every six to ten miles. However, given the unpredictability of weather in the mid-west these were already closed for the season and not scheduled to reopen until mid-April. Between these trailheads the trail crosses over smaller roads and country highways, with tunnels and underpasses at larger crossings like the interstate.
The trail also extends from Brandon to Waterloo, but damage to the trail during the 2008 floods has unfortunately kept sections between Brandon and Laporte City closed. The majority of the trail is crushed limestone, covered in some areas by short grass and, this time of year, leaves. At the northern and southern ends the trail is paved, and there is a grassroots effort underway to pave additional portions of the trail between Center Point and Hiawatha.
The trail seems like it would be ideal for cycling, and while I was out I spotted a number of individuals and small groups taking advantage of the trail for that very purpose, ranging from serious cyclists in full get-up to casual bike-riders out with their kids. There were also a few hikers and other walkers, but few runners. I can’t say I entirely blame area runners for avoiding the trail; as nice as it is, its former life as a railroad right of way means it is very straight and, as a result, sometimes rather boring. At over 50 miles in length when it is fully open, however, it provides an ideal ride for area Iowans looking to avoid vehicle traffic.
I will say it was nice to go on a run and actually get somewhere. Putting together a 32 mile run that ends where it began can be a challenge, even when it includes little jaunts to neighboring towns. My local routes consist of various combinations of 8-10 segments that add up 32 miles, but even with that variation routes get old, and in the end I’m always running in a giant circle. Still, though the change was nice, given hour drive I probably won’t venture back to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail until sometime in 2010, at least not for a run. For a ride? Maybe.