Hiking in Geode State Park around the perimeter of the lake. The scenery is beautiful and there is picnicking and fishing available.

A ride that will take on you on roads shared with cars and on the Prairie Farmer Trail. The surface is made of paved roads and crushed limestone. The climb is steep and long. The scenery changes from farm fields, city neighborhoods and business district. There are restroom facilities and drinking water at the trailhead.

A network of multi-use trails travel over rolling hill terrain in Newton Hills State Park offering some fun and challenging ride option for mountain bikers. The marked singletrack trails travel through forested areas and open meadows with lots of short but steep climbs and descents. Trail conditions may be muddy at times with small obstacles along the way. The trails can be used to customize multiple shorter loops or one long loop. The trails are The state park also offers camping and picnic areas. The trails are also open for hiking and horseback riding so watch out for other users along the way. There are some other connecting trails to the south but some allow hiking only.

Starr's Cave Preserve Trail is beautiful with limestone bluffs shadowing Flint Creek. During the winter you can cross country ski to explore the trails.

This is an easy trail of mixed concrete and crushed stone. There are several bathrooms and picnic facilities around the trail. You will cross three bridges over the lake. It is easy hiking with some beautiful lake views.

The surface is crushed limestone. This is a stretch of the trail, which is mapped as one way, there is parking at both ends. You will pass rolling hills of farmland, thick wooded forest and prairies. Hikers, cross-country skiers and cyclists use this rail to trail path. On the side there is a trail of mowed turf that is used by equestrians and snowmobilers.

A ride for spring, summer or fall, the scenery is beautiful at any time. It connects several parks riding through prairie, thick wooded areas, and neighborhoods, going by the Cedar River and going around the Big Woods Lake. This might be the very best ride in Iowa. Because of the parks, it goes through, you have facilities and drinking water throughout the ride.

The park is known for it’s fishing and camping. The trail goes around and over the lakes. Surrounded by hardwood forest, this is a quick get away from the city with wildlife viewing opportunities in their natural habitat. Camping is popular, first come first serve. There are two boat ramps with day parking next to it.

Hikers, cross-country skiers and hunters are welcome. Be aware of ticks and poison ivy. Going around the lake, with thick woods surrounding it for most of the hike, you have great views the whole time. If you choose to stay overnight, there is camping available and cabins for rent. The lake provides good fishing and in the winter months you can also do sledding and ice skating.

The park has several trails that are short and multi-use. This mapping illustrates those trails. You can also connect to the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail, which is several miles long. While biking, enjoy the views of lakes, wooded forest and wildlife. These trails are shared with hikers, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers.