Linn County Bird Preserve

The Bird preserve is about to have the official opening day later this week. Our walk on the trails today found it well maintained and ready for a full nature experience. Quite a varied terrain, uphill and down. Wooded paths and trails that skirt open fields and grasslands. Very beautiful. There are fresh new benches in areas along the trail to enjoy the bird song and river vistas or farm fields nearby. Built for biking and hiking, leashed dogs are welcomed. Wild flowers, mushrooms, berries, walnuts, and all sorts of visual pleasures that will fill each season. It would make a fun woodland excursion for active children and perhaps a seek and find scavenger hunt while at the same time learning the "look but don't touch" lessons of appreciating a natural habitat. The bird song we heard while walking was spectacular and only punctuated the perfect silence of a small forest. What a wonderful addition this will be to the outdoor experiences in Cedar Rapids. Bathrooms are available near each parking area. Picnic tables and pavilion on the Roger's road entrance.

I kept noticing this place when I would drive by, so I finally made time to hike it. It is a very simple hike once you get over the initial hill. You have many options to choose from, most of which fade to a dead end, but one leads you to the bird watching area, which is a nice loop. There are plenty of benches and places to sit along the main trail and what I’m going to call the “bird loop” (to honor Pa Bird). The trails that branch off of the “Bird Loop” don’t loop around and are considered out and back. There were all kinds of birds to observe and just as many butterflies. Be sure to bring bug spray - I think the birds like this place so much because the bugs like it! It’s really a beautiful little spot with the perfect Iowa landscapes. There is only one restroom, and it can be seen from the parking lot. The first bench is the closest bench to the water. It also allows you to hike down by the water, but be careful, you will be off trail if you do so. I need to mention there is a lot of milkweed and every other plant native to this area out here. It is young, but it is very well preserved and needs to be kept this way. There are monarchs and many other butterflies here, so please, OBSERVE, but DO NOT DISTURB! It is the North Side of Cedar Rapids’ version of Wanatee (Squaw Creek) Park. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at this place. *disclaimer: my photos are not in order of the hike because I did not want to spoil the excitement of your hike. **Take note that one trail leads to an area that appears to have been bulldozed and has a pile of rubble on it. The rubble could be dangerous to curious animals or small children. I felt like I may have wandered off the property, but the trail clearly leads you here. It may have yet to be developed… ***Also keep in mind that this area allows bow hunting when in season. Be mindful when you hike here during bow hunting season, and HUNTERS, please remember that some people may not be aware of your presence here, regardless of the clear sign (only one sign for the entire park) upon arrival. ****!This was a wonderful little hike that is very close to the intersection of Ellis Rd and Edgewood Rd. As much as I enjoyed being the only person out here, I feel like Cedar Rapids deserves to know this place exists. Tenants of Riverview Apartments and Windsor on the River should be aware of its whereabouts if they have dogs because it seems to be EXTREMELY DOG FRIENDLY! There aren’t many trails I know of on this side of town that are this close to town and the family who donated the property clearly wanted people to appreciate it. I did the best I could to take photos that show the lay of the land. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Some nice wooded to grass land trails. There is an outside trail that is .7 miles long which is an out and back. A prairie loop trail that also is .7 miles long. There are a couple of spirs that are .1 miles long which just means they are out and back. There is also a .3 loop trail. You can either enter from rodgers rd 5441 or off of Ellis blvd.

Beautiful place to get away for awhile

Very beautiful place to walk. By yourself or with others. Dog-friendly ❤️ 💙 💜 picnic area.