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Submission
From Waterloo-Cedar Falls follow US 218 south to La Porte City and follow park signs through town. From Cedar Rapids follow I-380 N / IA 27 N to Exit 55 on CRV65. Travel 1 mile and turn right onto Brandon Road/CR-D48. Follow this 5 miles and keep left at the fork to continue on Brandon Road/CR-D48 another 2 miles when the road becomes 8th Street. Turn left onto N. Spruce St. for .03 miles, turn left onto Bishop Road for 1.9 miles, turn left onto King Road for .02 miles to the park entrance.
Windy roads through mature woods lead you to a simple secluded and picturesque camp ground. Located along the Cedar Valley Nature trail, you can easily hop on a bike and coast for miles along easy riding trails. The trail also contains many micro habitats for an array of migratory and local birds, seeing Bluebirds, Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Red-headed Woodpeckers are very common.
Have been camping here for my birthday for several years now. We kayak right to the campground, which is super nice. We tend to get a little loud, so we camp in the group area, and have never had a problem.
McFarlane Park is a very pretty and peaceful park that is close to the Cedar River and Cedar River Nature Trail. It is easy to get to and the facilities are well kept. There is free wifi and lots of play areas for kids and adults. Make sure to bring your own grill as the firepits are pretty basic. And other than the nature trail, the park trails are pretty limited.
Neat little park with lots of floodplain, cedar prairie, ephemeral ponds. Have seen muskrat, turkeys, deer, squirrels, hawks, vultures, and many other species. Beautiful during spring when bluebells are in bloom.
Also an excellently maintained camping are with playground, shelter, modern bathrooms, and public boat access. Directly adjacent to the cedar valley nature trail, along which only a 10 minute ride to La Porte City.
