The edges and protected areas have 5-6", however, deeper areas may only have 2-3". Macbride Falls, Solon. Lake Macbride State Park is Iowa's largest state park, where 2,180 acres bids a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing, boating, swimming, camping, hiking, picnicking (reservable shelters and lodge) and much more. As you drive into town you will see multiple signs about the bridge. 3. Lake Activities On a hot day, Lake 's beach, located in the northern unit of the park, is the perfect place to cool off or simply relax and enjoy the view. Wildcat Den State Park. State Capitol Building – one of the most beautiful buildings to visit in Iowa. You can either follow your footsteps back to your vehicle or follow the road connected to the boat ramp parking lot and be back to your car in no-time. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. Union Grove Lake Waterfall. As of publication, Lake MacBride State Park is open and provides access to the spillway from which you can find the cascades along the lake. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/iowa/lake-macbride-nature-recreation-area https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/iowa/lake-macbride-state-park Ledges State Park is one of Iowa’s most historic and unique nature destinations, especially for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. A section of the waterfall between Lake MacBride and Coralville Lake. 11 reviews of Lake Macbride State Park "This is a beautiful lake, just west of Solon, right smack-dab between Iowa City and Mount Vernon. check their Facebook page for updates, here. Use caution if venturing out. Numerous 1930s CCC structures can be viewed throughout the park including an iconic stone bridge … From boating with rentals available, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming it’s a family fun and nature lover must visit! Macbride Waterfall Loop [CLOSED] is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Solon, Iowa that features a lake and is rated as moderate. (2K) (Keep the lake on your le, you will cross one boat ramp parking lot). This afternoon-long hike along the rocky shores of the Coralville Lake and Iowa River to the waterfall/ Lake MacBride Waterfall. Google Local / Andrew Hancock You’ll find Lake MacBride State Park at 3525 Hwy 382 NE, Solon, IA 52333. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Maybe would have been better for sunrise. For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615. from Racine Ave. NE at Sovers St. (Solon) to SR 382 (Lake Macbride State Park). NOTE: The recreation area may be closed due to COVID-19, so be sure to check their Facebook page for updates, here. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Macbride Falls. The waterfalls are breathtaking, the Lake and surrounding landscape is so beautiful! If traveling on Highway 22, look for Wild Cat Den Road. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Solon. Before you know it you're standing on a... http://www.traillink.com/trail-maps/solon-lake-macbride-recreation-trail.aspx, Explore Columbus Junction's Swinging Bridge, Hike to Devil's Punch Bowl, WIldcat Den SP. This popular outdoor recreation area is … Contact: Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! You can find more trail information and maps on AllTrails, here. Lake Macbride boat rentals and jet ski rental. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for Iowans and ensure a legacy for future generations. That view with the hammock is is beautiful. Lake Macbride is one of the most underrated spots in the state, and their secluded beach is the best spot to cool off from the Iowa sun this summer! Coralville Lake is an artificial lake in Johnson County, Iowa, US, formed by the Coralville Dam, a dam built from 1949 to 1958 on the Iowa River upstream from the city of Coralville, Iowa. Wildlife Description This trail may be the best stretch of trail in the entire MacBride complex. There's a few spots along the way that are perfect for hammockin', rock skippin', and bonfire chillin'. adventures and follow local regulations. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. Love Iowa? It is a quarter mile walk over hilly, muddy rocky path to… The falls are a wide, gradual spill-out of Lake Macbride into the Iowa River with two steep bluffs surrounding it. The highway runs straight through town. If you can’t get enough of it, try spending the night! Enjoy the best boats, waverunners, boat tours, charters, water toys and watercraft rentals in Iowa. Lake Macbride State Park: Sunday morning hike around the beautiful lake 08/16 - See 80 traveler reviews, 33 candid photos, and great deals for Solon, IA, at Tripadvisor. Bring your whole family out to enjoy a hike through the park and a picnic on the rocks and you’ll be so happy you discovered this quiet natural oasis. At Please explore responsibly! This Easy, 1.5 Mile Trail Leads To MacBride Falls, One Of Iowa's Most Underrated Waterfalls. A four-mile trail system winds through steep slopes and scenic overviews, with sandstone ledges towering 100 feet above the Des Moines River. They’re pretty low-grade in terms of waterfalls, so walking around them is easy. This Hike runs along the river with constant scenic views of the water and the aquatic life. Located in the wooded valleys of Mill and Jordan Creeks, Lake Macbride is certain to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts The Enormous Lake Macbride In Iowa Is One Of The Best Fishing Holes In The Country When it comes to the best fishing holes in Iowa, it’s hard to top Lake Macbride State Park. https://www.mapquest.com/us/iowa/lake-macbride-state-park-6795781 The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. We continued to the left along the water into the reeds and were immediately surrounded by big flying bugs and ended up bushwacking two miles until we finally reached the water fall, which was cute but also very crowded and we didn't really see many spots for hammocking. Where you end your day is entirely up to you, we hung up the hammock over one of the bluffs at the falls, but going back and setting up shop somewhere along the Iowa River shore is just as tempting. The Sweetest Road Trip in Iowa Takes You To 7 Old School Chocolate Shops, The Best Little Food Town In Iowa You Need To Explore Before It Gets Too Popular, The Maquoketa Caves Loop Trail Will Show You A Completely New Side Of Iowa, Relax In A Waterfront Hot Tub At A Charming Lake House In Iowa That’s Perfect For A Couples Getaway, Climb 170 Steps To The Top Of The Cordova Park Tower In Iowa And You Can See All The Way Across Lake Red Rock, Surrounded By A Serene Forest, The Woodlands Bed And Breakfast Is An Ideal Spot For Any Iowa Nature Lover, This Historic Sewing Factory In Iowa Was Turned Into A Brewery And You’ve Got To Visit, The Untold Story Of The Iowa City That Vanished Practically Overnight, trail information and maps on AllTrails, here. The lake is huge, there is a boat rental facility, the place was clean, the roads were decent, the trails were well maintained and the restroom facilities were clean. The waterfalls are breathtaking, the Lake and surrounding landscape is so beautiful! Get more stories delivered right to your email. One of the most underrated waterfalls in Iowa can be found at Lake MacBride State Park, where the lake flows across a rocky natural spillway along a series of short and shallow cascades. Where's the fun in driving right up to your scenic destination? Nice scenic area to watch the kayakers go by. Here's how we had a more adventurous day at the lake by hopping off the beaten path: Just as you enter the park from County Road F16 coming out of the small town of Solon, IA you will see a small, grass parking lot on your right (this lot has been marked by the pin on the map below). Good catches of walleyes, channel catfish, crappies and bluegill await the angler in the 812-acre artificial lake. Although the Interpretive Trail isn't explicitly marked on it, I found the Lake Macbride trail map on http://www.traillink.com/trail-maps/solon-lake-macbride-recreation-trail.aspx to be helpful. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Walleyes, channel catfish and muskies are stocked annually. As you continue to hike and get into the wooded area, you begin to hear rushing water. The Swinging Bridge is one of the main attractions in Columbus Junction, Iowa. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Solon. Definitely have to visit sometime. Beach To Dam Trail at Lake Macbride is a 3.1 mile loop hike that takes you by lake MacBride and the Iowa River located near Solon, Iowa. 4. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Path to old wildcat dens. There is something for everyone to do! We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Turn around and hike back across the dam. The midwest is not much for waterfalls but this is a gem. Lots of small bluegill that are easy to catch. Location: Gladbrook. Lake MacBride State Park is bigger than we realized, so between Google maps and a map of the lake we found online, we did eventually find the waterfall. After Macbride Falls, it's time to travel slightly north and slightly west to rural Tama County, where you'll find your next waterfall at Union Grove Lake. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. This easy and shady trail is a great place to hike in the summertime, and by the time you get to the falls, you’ll be ready to get your feet wet! If you are coming from Highway 61, look for Vail Road, and then turn left on to... From the Maquoketa Caves State Park office, near the parking area, hike north for access to 8 of the 16 caves in the park. Nice state park We drove the winding road out to the waterfall/dam parking lot, where the impoundment of Lake MacBride, discharges as a falls into the Coralville Reservoir. Eventually you wrap around a sharp corner along the Iowa River where you'll see the boat ramp parking lot and the path to the waterfall. Some areas have unsafe ice hidden under the snow. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 157 ftRoute type Loop Hiking Nature trips Walking Forest Lake Views Waterfall Wildflowers Closed It’s one of the most scenic places in the Hawkeye State! About half-way through town you will take a left, and the ... Wild Cat Den State Park is located between Blue Grass, Iowa and Muscatine, Iowa, just south of the Quad Cities. At times, this beautiful hike feels like it takes you right out of the Midwest, and allows you to watch the sunset from a variety of legit locations. Date of … (The spillway was blasted out of solid rock in 1957.) When we got to the beach, it was packed with boaters and people hanging out and we felt very out of place. … I am glad you reviewed your hike and it looks awesome. Located nearby is a boat rental and concession operation. 2. Commonly called … When you first arrive it appears to be a massive plot of farm land. Once you reach the beach and the trail ends, simply start along the shore of what becomes the Iowa River towards the Coralville Res Boat Ramp. From boating with rentals available, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming it’s a family fun and nature lover must visit! Use caution if venturing out. Lake MacBride State Park combines a sprawling lake with an impressive waterfall to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Easy hike to the falls. We found it, no thanks to signs, of which there were too few. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/underrated-waterfall-macbride-ia Lake Macbride may be the only lake in Iowa in which the prized Kentucky spotted bass can be caught. There's also a well maintained beach area. The Official Home page for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, DNR. This is a very manageable hike for all skill levels- it only has 141 miles of elevation and is not super long. Coralville Lake is situated 1½ miles south of Lake MacBride … Lake Macbride offers 812 acres of artificial lake prime for catching fish including walleye, channel catfish and muskie. Tucked away between Marshalltown and Waterloo, Union Grove Lake is a recreational haven that offers one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state. Lake MacBride North Shore Trail is a 8.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Solon, Iowa that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. There are a few signs, but the closer you get to the waterfall, the signs disappear so you're kind of left to your own devices to figure out where it is. © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. This park features a unique spillway/waterfall where MacBride flows into the Iowa River. On the opposite side of the street is the entrance to the Lake Macbride Recreation Trail, which leads back towards Solon- Connected to the parking lot is the entrance to the Lake Macbride Interpretive Trail, a small loop trail that has a section branching off to a beach along the Coralville Lake. There is something for everyone to do! The spillway is located between Lake Macbride and the Coralville Reservoir and is an easy hike. Thank you! From the top of the first trailhead from the lower parking lot, turn right and … The waterfall can be strategically walked across without even getting wet and both bluffs can be climbed with little effort. There are no fishing reports available. This shoreline is mostly rocky with some beach spots tucked away here and there, and can also be very windy, giving it a coastal vibe. These caves include Wide Mouth Cave, Dug Out Cave, Twin Arch Cave, Hernando's Hideaway, Up-N-Down Cave, Widow Cave, Match Ca... Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Area is such a cool find. This is a good place to fish with small children. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I have many fond memories of trips down here just for kicks. This afternoon-long hike along the rocky shores of the Coralville Lake and Iowa River to the waterfall/ spill-out of Lake Macbride easily beats walking to the falls from the Coralville Res Boat Ramp parking lot. Solon-Lake Macbride Recreation Trail spans 5.3 mi. Make your way across the dam and around the large rock at the far end. This world-class lake is fully stocked and offers plenty of accessible fishing … View amenities, descriptions, reviews, photos, itineraries, and directions on TrailLink. It seems that nearly every state has a ‘Bridal Veil Falls’, but in this instance, … It is safe to walk across this spillway area. Palisades-Kepler State Park. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Bridal Veil Falls. WHEN TO GO: Year-round HOW TO GET THERE: Although this waterfall is technically a spillway, the rock formations still make it an impressive site. Iowa has dozens of state parks, and it’s always a wonder stumbling upon one of the more hidden natural treasures. Lake Macbride is an angler's delight! We camped at Lake Macbride State Park in a Tent. I used to come here during my college days to relax on the "beach" and camp out during the Fall and Spring before the summer bugs and winter frost made it uncomfortable. Lake Macbride Dam. 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