A New Clear Creek Trail in Coralville

You are probably already familiar with the paved trail in Coralville that runs more or less along Clear Creek. The best known access is the Tom Harkin Trailhead along Camp Cardinal Blvd. But there has been another type of trail system under gradual development in the same greenway corridor.

A new bridge made of treated lumber spanning a wetland west of the trailhead.

When I first noticed it several years ago, I thought maybe it was something children had made by riding their bikes through the floodplain woods – just a narrow dirt track weaving between the trees, with an occasional bit of shovel work and a few brushes and small trees removed.

Official Coralville map of the Woodpecker Singletrack, which runs east of the trailhead.

But then I noticed scattered flagging along the route, so I didn’t know whether it was an official Coralville layout, or whether the kids were racing between loops marked with flags.

The answer became clear when little bridges began to appear over gullies and across wetlands. Not the kind that children improvise from logs and scrap boards. These are made with treated lumber, have railings, and are set on concrete footings or ground plates.

One dirt trail loop is now complete and open for hikers, birders, and dirt bikers. Labeled the Woodpecker Singletrack, the west end is accessed from the parking lot roundabout at the Tom Harken Trailhead; while its east end touches the 12th Avenue paved trail connector. Signs at both ends establish some ground rules, the most important ones include:

• • All traffic goes clockwise around the loop. (Given limited visibility in summer, and the ability of bikes to reach low highway speeds, I think that this is supposed to make it safer. But personally I would prefer to walk facing bike traffic rather than having it come up behind me. If I were a birdwatcher on this trail, I would wear bright colors and step well off the trail to do any serious birding.)
  • Bikes are only allowed when the trail is dry and they leave no tire ruts. (So far, we have been in a drought since last summer, compliance has been easy, and the trail is therefore in good conditions. On the flat floodplain with sandy soils, following these instructions should produce a need for only lightweight maintenance. However, in some other places with low-permeability soils and steep slopes, for example Ryerson’s Woods, any dirt bike trail would become a complete disaster.)

A new bridge and trail across a gully.

Another loop, with bridges, is presently under construction, going west from the Mary Somerville memorial. Portions of it run right along the top of the creekbank, and while walking it in late April, I noticed quite a few pairs of ducks flying low just above the water. We usually don’t get to observe them from above, and their breeding colors just glowed against the dark background of the creekbed.

So far, this is a dry spring, the mosquitoes shan’t be too pesky, go try it out.