Cherokee Trail update

 

You can get there from here!

The Cherokee Trail, which eventually will run all across the west side of Cedar Rapids, is complete between Cherokee Park and Morgan Creek County Park. The next step is to go east out of Cherokee Park, across Edgewood Road to the intersection of Westwood Drive and F Avenue NW. According to the Linn County Trails Association, work continues in the City of Cedar Rapids to determine the specific route the trail will take, while awaiting funding from the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization. Unfortunately, the MPO has not been encouraging on that score ("June 2026 Trail News" 2026).

On a recent sunny weekday, I encountered a few cyclists as well as some walkers; they seemed comfortable, although there currently are few sources of shade, at least not in the middle of the day. Even in Cherokee Park, the effects of the 2020 derecho are noticeable. (I also encountered precisely no pit bulls on my hike, although there were reports that two had run away and were loose in the area.) 

For the time being, the trail starts at the eastern edge of Cherokee Park, a small but delightfully unique park located at Johnson Avenue and Midway Drive NW. A paved trail supplements an older gravel trail that goes completely around the park on either side of a little creek. That gives you three options for crossing the park. 

The paved trail crosses a bridge on its way out of the park...

west edge of Cherokee Park

...crosses Wiley Boulevard (with the help of a new crossing signal), and runs alongside a residential neighborhood. A few steps or turns of the wheel get you to Jacolyn Park, which has a new play area...

Jacolyn Park

...and a restroom. Here the separated trail ends, and the Cherokee Trail follows Gordon Avenue for several blocks.

Cherokee Trail on Gordon Avenue NW

Gordon Avenue is officially designated a bicycle boulevard, for which it qualifies by the low traffic volume, gentle roundabouts like the one depicted above, and frequent reminders on signs and the pavement.

Bicycle boulevard stencil, Gordon Avenue

People's Church (Unitarian-Universalist) moved out here from downtown several years ago. 

People's Church is located on the bicycle boulevard

Gloria Dei Lutheran and Cedar Hills Community Church are also located along the Cherokee Trail, for Christians seeking to arrive at their house of worship by a humbler conveyance than an SUV.

The bicycle boulevard turns right off Gordon Avenue onto Sharon Lane...

...which leads into Cherry Hill Park, where the paved trail resumes.

entering Cherry Hill Park off Sharon Lane

The trail winds through the park, running along the north edge of the large swimming pool.

There's a fix-it station right before you get to Stoney Point Road.

There's no signage at Stoney Point Road...

...but taking the right fork leads to a crossing with warning lights, which leads to E Avenue, which leads to Morgan Creek Park.

On E Avenue there's the choice of a bike lane
or parallel paved trail

In the park, it becomes the Morgan Creek Trail...

...which winds through the park...

...as far as 80th Street, where it turns north and runs parallel to the street, continuing as far as Covington Road (F Avenue in Cedar Rapids). The Linn County Trails Association anticipates the Iowa Department of Transportation will authorized bids for constructing the 1.7 mile stretch between Covington Road and the Cedar River, with construction happening in 2027. The bridge over the river may take longer ("June 2026 Trail News" 2026).

SEE ALSO: "Riding the Districts 2023," 12 June 2023