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Cedar Bend County Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 135 Google reviews · Running trail in Waverly, Iowa · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
4 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Cedar Bend County Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Crushed gravel4 miOpen 24hShadedScenicRestroomsWater

Wooded park with a campground and a canoe launch, plus trails for hiking and walking.

What runners say about Cedar Bend County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (135 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“The wood pile is also great and the park seems to be well-maintained.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“The park is a camping park that is both beautiful and scenic.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“This is a very nice park with a lot of trees to provide shade.”

Awesome spot to take a relaxing walk along the river. Also a great spot to take photos and appreciate the beauty of nature alone or with friends and family. One of my local favorites!

★★★★★ — Jesse , Jan 2020

Camped here for several weeks with three children. It's spacious, has a good playground structure, lots of walking trails, fishing. Also nice bathrooms with showers, fresh water, electricity available. The prices are decent and Wednesdays are free.

★★★★☆ — Angi , Aug 2017

Great camping, large sites and not overcrowded. Trails are good, easy to moderate terrain. Lots of access on and off the trails. Some downed trees, but it's to be expected with recent weather. Overall a good get away for a few hours, a day or more

★★★★★ — Sean , Jul 2022

Family frendly hidden gem. Tons of shade for most of the camp sites. The park is very big with the cedar river running along the north side of the park.

★★★★★ — Isaac , Jun 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 135 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“This is a very nice park with a lot of trees to provide shade.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“The park is a camping park that is both beautiful and scenic.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“Some new sites with gravel pads, new hydrant at the other end of the campground and updated old hydrant.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Also nice bathrooms with showers, fresh water, electricity available.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Cedar Bend County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • Distance4 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websitemycountyparks.com
  • Phone+1 319-882-4742

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Cedar Bend County Park

777 Cedar Glyn Dr, Waverly, IA 50677

Get directions

Running trails near Waverly

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Kohlmann Park

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Riverside expanse with a playground, shelters and an amphitheater for events.

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Red Cedar Park

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Babcock Woods

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Ingawanis Woodlands Mountain Bike Trail head

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LoopNatural surface

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Black Hawk Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 320 reviews

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Rustic 1,490-acre green space with campgrounds & river access, plus a popular gun & archery range.

13.7 miles away

Big Woods Lake Recreation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 394 reviews

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PavedScenic

Lake with opportunities for disc golf, picnicking, and fishing, plus paved bike trails and a kid-friendly hike.

15.1 miles away

All running trails in Waverly, IA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.