Out on the Trails: UNI Biological Preserve Trail

Thankfully, winter is coming to an end. Despite setbacks this year due to Iowa’s wacky weather, spring break is on the horizon, coming with temperatures in the upper 50s to high 60s. Many of us have that itch to go outside after a long winter. Bathe in the sun and appreciate the great outdoors. But are you unsure of what to do? How about going out and exploring Cedar Valley’s trails?

Cedar Falls is considered a premier “trail town” by the American Discovery Trail Society, as by combining mile counts with Waterloo, the Cedar Valley area boasts over 130+ miles of paved, hard and soft trails. Some of the most significant trails include the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, which runs from Evansdale to Hiawatha, and the Cedar Valley Lakes trail running through George Wyth Park, connecting both to Cedar Falls and Evansdale. In this series of articles titled, Out on the Trails, I will review several of the trails around the Cedar Valley detailing their history, the wildlife located there, as well as giving an overall rating for the trail and see if it is a good place for you to go out and explore.

This first trail we are reviewing is the UNI Biological Preserve trail. Not to be confused with the UNI Preserve Bike trail, this part-paved, part soft trail is located along Dry Run Creek. It is open to the public and includes 5.8 miles of trail or nearly 88-acres of woods, prairie and upland forest. Overall, it takes about two hours to walk the entire area. However, if you don’t feel like walking that far, don’t worry. Many of the trails loop onto themselves, creating an easy way to walk the trail without being pressured to walk the entire 5.8 miles. There are also some resting areas deeper into the trails, with benches that trail goers can use to rest on.

Trail maintenance is, of course, run by UNI. Maintenance is done by UNI students who work at the UNI Botanical Center. They keep the trail mowed and cleared of debris to make sure visitors enjoy their time on the trail. Admittedly, because it is a trail adjacent to a college campus and Highway 58, it’s not surprising that trash can be found here. Luckily, though, the Botanical Center and its delegates do a fantastic job cleaning the trail. Honestly, I did really enjoy the forest trails more than the prairie trails, which were adjacent to the highway. Personally, hearing the hustle and bustle of cars honking and zooming down the highway really drew my attention away from the nature surrounding me. For me, while I’m out on trails, I want to get away from the crushing weight of man-made society. 

As for wildlife, during my visit, I saw multiple deer. One even crossed the trail in front of me, then dashed into the nearby brush. It was quite a wonderful experience. Birds also make themselves at home on the trail. Wild Turkeys can be heard and seen if you are quiet and lucky enough. The typical Iowa birds can also be found there. Dark-eyed juncos in the colder seasons and finches in the warmer ones. Woodpeckers can also be heard, their pecks echoing through the forest habitat. 

On the whole, the UNI Biological Preserve Trails are a wonderful trail for beginners. They are quite short compared to other trails and can become even shorter if you decide to take some looping pathways. Although there isn’t anything too special about the wildlife located there, the time spent in the forest and prairie is a nice way to disconnect from the stressors of daily life. Finally, although the trails aren’t completely cut off from the outside world, I do find it nice that there is a little piece of calm in the middle of town. It’s the perfect place to gather your thoughts and have a nice, relaxing walk in nature.