To explore Black Hawk through its landscapes and history, follow the Cedar Valley Trails as a common thread: the trail network spans more than 100 miles. Along the trails, the Prairie Pathways project uses panels and kiosks, images and stories to share the region’s natural and human history. Here, the landscape and traces of human life are not presented separately.

Trails, Nature and Wildlife Watching

The Cedar Valley Trails are open 365 days a year for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Check seasonal conditions and possible closures before setting out. Black Hawk Park provides access to the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. For cyclists along the trail, the Behrens-Rapp Filling Station/Visitor’s Information Center offers shaded benches, trail maps and an air compressor.

Those who would rather focus on forests and wildlife than take a longer trip can visit the 340-acre Hartman Reserve Nature Center. It is surrounded by the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls and is home to the largest publicly managed tract of upland forest in Black Hawk County. Birdwatchers have spotted more than 200 bird species, as well as other wildlife, at George Wyth State Park; the number of sightings may change over time. The two places offer different ways to observe nature: one is an expansive forest, the other a park also known for its birdwatching.

History in Museums and Collections

At the Grout Museum of History and Science, permanent exhibits alternate with continuously changing exhibitions about the region’s history. The institution also includes the James, Robert and Dick McKinstry Funded Library, the largest genealogical reference library in northeastern Iowa. Visitors interested in both family and regional history can explore two different avenues here: the exhibits and the genealogical research library.

The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum displays Deere equipment at the site of the very first Deere tractor factory. Interactive exhibits explore the history of John Deere. The museum is on the west side of the 30-acre TechWorks Campus in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. Here, early industrial history and a downtown setting come together in one place.

The Victorian House Museum contains furnishings, photographs and everyday objects from 1880 to 1900. The Ice House Museum, in turn, is a round building dating from 1921 that displays tools once used to harvest ice from the nearby Cedar River. The Little Red Schoolhouse recalls a time when siblings and neighborhood children learned in a schoolhouse like this one. The Cedar Falls Historical Society also houses a special exhibits gallery and a Lenoir model railroad exhibit.

Art, Local Life and Distinctive Worlds

The permanent collection at the Waterloo Center for the Arts began in 1962 with Marvin Cone’s painting I Have Loved the Unloved, donated by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Junior League. More than 40 vendors at the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market offer fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items and hot food. The art collection and market show two facets of local life: the beginnings of a public collection and a varied selection of goods and food.

On the Cedar River, the Riverloop Amphitheatre is a venue with an exceptional design and spectacular views. The general seating area has about 600 seats. The Cedar Valley Arboretum offers classes and programs for all ages, including activities for children and workshops for adults; offerings may vary by season. The range extends from a venue for events to learning opportunities that change with the seasons.

Other attractions also have their own thematic focus. The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifices of all Iowa veterans, from the Civil War to the present. Lost Island Themepark is divided into five immersive, themed elemental worlds: fire, air, earth, water and spirit. Both places put a clear theme at the center—one the history of military service in Iowa, the other five different elemental worlds.

Discover more destinations: Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Evansdale.

View the main travel overview: Iowa.