The spillway is located between Lake Macbride and the Coralville Reservoir and is an easy hike. Lake MacBride State Park combines a sprawling lake with an impressive waterfall to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. This world-class lake is fully stocked and offers plenty of accessible fishing … Contact: Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The State Park offers both a modern campground along with a traditional one located on the south side of the park but they ask that you camp in the designated areas. 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! We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. This popular outdoor recreation area is … You'll receive your first newsletter soon! There are no fishing reports available. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Macbride Falls. 2. This Hike runs along the river with constant scenic views of the water and the aquatic life. 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! 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. The falls are a wide, gradual spill-out of Lake Macbride into the Iowa River with two steep bluffs surrounding it. A four-mile trail system winds through steep slopes and scenic overviews, with sandstone ledges towering 100 feet above the Des Moines River. We camped at Lake Macbride State Park in a Tent. 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. The highway runs straight through town. There is something for everyone to do! I am glad you reviewed your hike and it looks awesome. Solon-Lake Macbride Recreation Trail spans 5.3 mi. It is a quarter mile walk over hilly, muddy rocky path to… 3. If you can’t get enough of it, try spending the night! Maybe would have been better for sunrise. 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. Use caution if venturing out. Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Solon. Lake MacBride Waterfall. 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. The waterfall can be strategically walked across without even getting wet and both bluffs can be climbed with little effort. View amenities, descriptions, reviews, photos, itineraries, and directions on TrailLink. 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. It’s one of the most scenic places in the Hawkeye State! There's also a well maintained beach area. Iowa has dozens of state parks, and it’s always a wonder stumbling upon one of the more hidden natural treasures. 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. 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. 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. From the top of the first trailhead from the lower parking lot, turn right and … 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. 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. from Racine Ave. NE at Sovers St. (Solon) to SR 382 (Lake Macbride State Park). https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/iowa/lake-macbride-nature-recreation-area 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. Get more stories delivered right to your email. From boating with rentals available, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming it’s a family fun and nature lover must visit! 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. Bridal Veil Falls. 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. 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. Also nearby the University of Iowa has a raptor rescue facility at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area that is open daily. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 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. As you continue to hike and get into the wooded area, you begin to hear rushing water. 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. A section of the waterfall between Lake MacBride and Coralville Lake. The Official Home page for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, DNR. Love Iowa? The edges and protected areas have 5-6", however, deeper areas may only have 2-3". 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. Located in the wooded valleys of Mill and Jordan Creeks, Lake Macbride is certain to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts It seems that nearly every state has a ‘Bridal Veil Falls’, but in this instance, … Walleyes, channel catfish and muskies are stocked annually. 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. When you first arrive it appears to be a massive plot of farm land. … That view with the hammock is is beautiful. Ledges State Park is one of Iowa’s most historic and unique nature destinations, especially for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. We found it, no thanks to signs, of which there were too few. From boating with rentals available, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming it’s a family fun and nature lover must visit! There's a few spots along the way that are perfect for hammockin', rock skippin', and bonfire chillin'. Lake Macbride offers 812 acres of artificial lake prime for catching fish including walleye, channel catfish and muskie. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Make your way across the dam and around the large rock at the far end. Macbride Falls, Solon. This afternoon-long hike along the rocky shores of the Coralville Lake and Iowa River to the waterfall/ This is a very manageable hike for all skill levels- it only has 141 miles of elevation and is not super long. Use caution if venturing out. Nice scenic area to watch the kayakers go by. Please explore responsibly! 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's the fun in driving right up to your scenic destination? 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. (2K) (Keep the lake on your le, you will cross one boat ramp parking lot). 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. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Solon. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 157 ftRoute type Loop Hiking Nature trips Walking Forest Lake Views Waterfall Wildflowers Closed https://www.mapquest.com/us/iowa/lake-macbride-state-park-6795781 Located nearby is a boat rental and concession operation. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/iowa/lake-macbride-state-park The waterfalls are breathtaking, the Lake and surrounding landscape is so beautiful! adventures and follow local regulations. (The spillway was blasted out of solid rock in 1957.) 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. Definitely have to visit sometime. 4. 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. Lake Macbride may be the only lake in Iowa in which the prized Kentucky spotted bass can be caught. There is something for everyone to do! 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. Lake Macbride is an angler's delight! Union Grove Lake Waterfall. Wildcat Den State Park. When we got to the beach, it was packed with boaters and people hanging out and we felt very out of place. 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.