Solon Recreation and Nature Area - Solon, IA
Solon Recreation and Nature Area Dog Park Guide
If you’re searching for a dog-friendly outdoor adventure in the Solon, Iowa area, the Solon Recreation and Nature Area is a top local choice. Conveniently located on Racine Ave NE, this pet-friendly park is known for its spacious grounds, ample parking, and accessibility features, making it a welcoming spot for dog owners and families alike. Wheelchair-accessible entrances and parking lots ensure everyone can enjoy what the park has to offer.
The park’s amenities include modern restrooms, numerous sports fields, a disc golf course, a small playground, and a trailhead for several bike and hiking routes. Local reviews highlight the paved, pet-friendly trails connecting to Ely and Lake McBride, perfect for those who enjoy dog-friendly hiking and outdoor activities. The Timber Dome Lodge is available for rental, making it possible to host gatherings or even dog birthday parties. While there’s no dedicated mention of a fenced dog park or off-leash area, the park’s open green spaces and trail network make it a haven for leashed walks and outdoor fun with pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the Solon Recreation and Nature Area offers wheelchair-accessible entrances and parking lots.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are two modern restrooms available on-site.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, the park features a playground and a large splash pad currently in development, along with various sports fields.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? No, there are no fees or permits required to use the park or its trails.
- Where is the best place to park? There is a large, easily accessible parking area with dedicated handicapped spots.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park is a trailhead for paved and gravel trails leading toward Ely, Cedar Rapids, and Lake McBride.
- Can I host a dog birthday party at the park? Yes, the Timber Dome Lodge can be rented for private events like dog birthday parties.
Reviews
It’s a good destination to ride to from Cedar Rapids.
Very nice trail, can lead to the road to Ely, about 10 miles away. The trail itself is only 1 or 2 miles. Edit: there’s a fork in the trail, one leading to Ely and the other trailing across the Lake McBride northern shore, leading eventually to the McBride campgrounds and beach. The Ely path is 2 miles without the actual car roads, and the McBride trail is 5 miles, with some road in between the end of the trail and the campgrounds.
Lovely city park and recreation complex on the west side of Solon, Iowa. It features a huge parking area, playing fields for a variety of sports, two modern restrooms, the Timber Dome Lodge (available to rent for events), and a pleasant loop hiking trail. It serves as the Southern trailhead for a nearly continuous bicycle trail that travels north 80+ miles through Ely, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Center Point, and eventually to Waterloo & Cedar Falls. No fees or permits for the portion of the trail between here and Cedar Rapids, which is 100% paved. The 30 mile round trip from here to the Czech Village/NewBo neighborhood on the south side of Cedar Rapids is especially popular. This park also serves as the eastern terminus of a gravel trail that runs along the north shore of Lake McBride and ends at the Lake McBride State Park beach.
Parking was a breeze. Handicapped parking is accessible and convenient. The trail is in great shape. We noticed a new fire hydrant before the bridge near the trail with ground cleared around it, probably to put a waterline in. The weather is warm and windy 4/9/23 Easter Sunday.
Amazing park and green space especially for a small town. There are football, baseball and soccer fields for days. There is a nice little disc golf course. They have a great basketball court here with a colored plastic time floor and large glass backboards. There is a small playground for little kids. A bike train runs right thru it and is a trailhead for biking, walking, jogging to lake McBride, Ely and beyond. Tons of parking, they are also working on a large splash pad!