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Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
United States
Iowa
Black Hawk County
Cedar Falls

Big Woods Lake – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
United States
Iowa
Black Hawk County
Cedar Falls

Big Woods Lake – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

Intermediate

5.0

(2)

7

riders

Big Woods Lake – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

02:55

48.9km

120m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 27, 2025

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Waypoints

A

Start point

Parking

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1

8.78 km

Big Woods Lake

Highlight • Lake

Big Woods Lake is at the center of Big Woods Lake Recreation Area, which includes a campground, playground, and boat ramp.

Tip by

2

13.1 km

Cedar River

Lake

3

30.1 km

Cedar River

Highlight • River

The Cedar river is 338 miles long and passes through Austin, Minn and Charles City, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids in Iowa. The river takes its name from the red cedar along its lower course.

Tip by

4

31.6 km

Hartman Reserve Nature Center

Highlight • Forest

Hartman Reserve is a gorgeous 340-acre wooded isle with trails and educational exhibits in the interpretive center. There are a host of trails that are open every day from sunrise to sunset.

Tip by

5

32.6 km

South Riverside Trail

Highlight • Trail

South Riverside Trail, a section of the Cedar Valley Trail System, is a paved 10-mile trail that follows the southern shore of the Cedar River from Cedar Falls to Waterloo.

Tip by

6

34.1 km

Castle Bluff Park

Highlight • Lake

Castle Bluff Park is a small park with dense woods and is mostly comprised of a lake. The Trolley Car Trail passes through the southern portion of the park.

Tip by

7

39.1 km

Brinker Lake

Highlight • Lake

The views out over Brinker Lake here on the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail are simply stunning. The trail is a paved byway, and here it is right next to the …

Tip by

8

42.7 km

Fisher Lake

Highlight • Lake

Fisher Lake is a natural water body with a bikeway to the south and a quiet road in the north. You may spot people fishing here for bluegill and largemouth bass.

Tip by

B

48.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

37.0 km

9.07 km

1.91 km

515 m

378 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

42.4 km

3.48 km

3.02 km

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Elevation

Elevation

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

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Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

5.0

7

Big Woods Lake – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

5.0

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

4

Brinker Lake – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

5

Cedar River – Cedar River loop from Waterloo

02:07h

36.2km

80m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

1.0

5

Cedar River – Brinker Lake loop from Waterloo

01:04h

18.3km

40m

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