The Iowa City area accommodates cyclists of all kinds – commuters, leisure cyclists and competitive racers. Hard surface trails, mountain bike trails, county roads and gravel roads provide bicyclists new ground to explore on two wheels. Bring your own bicycle or rent one from a local shop before deciding your route for the day. Rentals are available at Sugar Bottom Bikes and World of Bikes. Below is a snapshot of options for various biking types – for a complete guide to riding in our county, visit the Bike Iowa City website.

Trail Riding

The Iowa River Corridor Trail is Iowa City’s longest and most heavily used trail, among others weaving between different areas of the community. The Iowa Department of Transportation provides an interactive map that labels types of trails in Johnson County and other areas in Iowa. Johnson County also offers a detailed map to help guide your way.

Mountain Biking

The area surrounding Lake MacBride is a favorite for mountain bikers. Sugar Bottom Recreation Area has single-track trail maps that indicate difficulty and also mark start and end points. (These trails close in December during hunting season.)

Road & Gravel Riding

Iowa’s county roads offer beautiful scenery along the state’s rural countryside, allowing riders to feel removed from the city while still offering easy access to its amenities. Helpful resources include the following: Bicyclists of Iowa City Road Routes | Iowa City Metro Map (gravel marked in yellow) | Johnson County Road Map (gravel marked in red)

Cyclo-cross

Coralville opened a 2.6 mile cross course in August 2017 and is the first permanent cyclo-cross course in Johnson County. It is available for biking, cross country running and cross country skiing and open daily throughout the year with the exception of the spring season when the ground is soft.