About
Macbride Nature Recreation Area (MNRA) is a 485-acre natural area featuring native woodlands, floodplain ecosystems, and both remnant and reconstructed prairies. Once part of the historic “Big Grove,” the landscape includes old-growth woodland communities with rare plant and animal species, making MNRA an ecologically significant and high-quality habitat.
Location Information
Address:
2095 Mehaffey Bride Road NE, Solon, IA 52333
Hours:
From April 1 - September 30, the area is open from 6am to 9pm
From October 1 - March 31, the area is open from 9am to 6pm
Restrooms:
Seasonal toilets are available throughout the park.
Parking:
Parking is allowed only in designated parking lots.
Parking outside of designated areas or along the roadway is not permitted.
MNRA Road is not maintained after closing hours. Roads may be closed during severe weather.
Please be aware that some areas may be closed to the general public at times for research and educational purposes.
Features
Trails
14 trails popular for running, hiking, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Trails surfaces and types vary throughout MNRA and range from being gravel or mowed to being primitive bare ground.
Bicycles and motor vehicles are not allowed on trails. All pets must remain on a leash and under the control of their handler at all times.
Coralville Lake
In 1959, the Iowa River was flooded creating the Coralville Lake Reservoir. The reservoir (bordering one side) and Lake Macbride (bordering the other side) forms MNRA land into a peninsula. Devonian bedrock rock outcrops run along much of the shoreline to create wonderful views of its natural beauty. Many of the lower areas are floodplain which fluctuates frequently with the management of the dam down river.
Lake Macbride State Park
Lake Macbride is named after the University of Iowa’s Thomas Macbride, who was known as the “father” of Iowa Conservation. Several of MNRA’s trails link up to the Lake Macbride State Parks “Field Campus Trail,” offering a wonderful primitive trail hike through their portion of historic “Big Grove” woodland remnants.
Archery Range
Archery Range structures and trails are provided and maintained in partnership with the Johnson County Archers.
Bird Blind
Built in 2020 and operated by the Iowa Raptor Project volunteers. The bird blind is open year-round within MNRA hours for up-close viewing of wildlife in their native habitat.
Request a Reservation
The UI WILD program manages facility rentals and reservations. Shelters and/or the Social Center may be reserved by University of Iowa classes, departments, and official student organizations, as well as by other insured organizations.
To inquire about reserving these spaces, please contact the UI WILD office at COE-WILD@uiowa.edu.
Facility Use Policies
- Beer and alcohol are not permitted.
- All pets must remain on a leash and under the control of their handler at all times.
- MNRA follows a carry-in, carry out policy. All trash must be removed and the shelter or facility should be left clean and ready for the next user.
- Picnic tables are restricted to the shelter area and should not be moved to other areas of the park.
- All non-registered visitors must be out of the park by closing time.
- Vehicles must remain on the roadways at all times.
- Parking is allowed only in designated parking lots.
- UI WILD reserves the right to assess fees for property damage or clean-up resulting from any shelter or facility rental.
- We kindly ask for a 48-hour notice for any cancellation.
- Reservation charges and fees are non-refundable. Refunds are not issued for inclement weather.
For questions on shelter reservations, please contact coe-wild@uiowa.edu
Pricing
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Reservation charges and fees are non-refundable. Refunds are not issued for inclement weather.
Programs
Iowa Wildlife Camps
Iowa Wildlife Camps is a conservation education and outdoor recreation program provided through the University of Iowa’s College of Education. Based at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, Iowa Wildlife Camps have been providing environmental learning opportunities for local youth since 1991. The program hosts over 1,200 youth registrants in pre-K through 12th grades every year.
School of the Wild
University of Iowa College of Education’s School of the Wild was started and developed at Macbride Nature Recreation Area in 1999, becoming the first NCA accredited special purpose school and the first accredited environmental school soon after. Now, the program has over 1,200 students participating in the weeklong experience every year.
Iowa Raptor Project
The Iowa Raptor Project’s mission is to connect students and the people of the state of Iowa to the conservation of birds of prey and their natural habitats through transformative educational experiences and collaborative research projects.
MNRA Historical Timeline
1800s
837 - Johnson County established by the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory
1838 - Description of Counties Physical Features, including MNRA’s Remnant Woodland” Big Grove” from the Iowa Weather Service
1839 (January 21) - Iowa City’s location established
1839 (May 1) - Description of the location chosen for the (Old) Capital with “Big Grove”
1841 - MNRA Land Surveyed (GLO MAP): https://bit.ly/4uisKoQ
1846 - Iowa becomes a state
1846 - Big Grove Township formed
1847 (February 25) - University of Iowa established
1870 - Atlas of Johnson County map created: https://bit.ly/4ugH412
1874-1911 - University of Iowa Professor Samuel Calvin utilized the general area of MNRA for both research and instruction in geology and paleontology
1900s
1900 - Land Survey map: https://bit.ly/4dRkvv1
1913-1919 - Survey of Macbride Nature Recreation Area Ecology by the University of Iowa: https://bit.ly/4uVFUt6
1930 - Plat Book: https://bit.ly/4dRHNB1
1934 - Lake Macbride State Park established
1936 - Original Lake Macbride constructed
1949-1958 - Coralville Dam constructed
1950-1957 - Aerial Photo - Kent, Frederick W. (Frederick Wallace): https://bit.ly/3Q6CLHI
1959- University of Iowa began leasing MNRA from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1969- University of Iowa Sailing Club organized
1984 - University of Iowa Recreational Services takes over stewardship of the lease
1984 (August) - Youth environmental education begins at MNRA
1984 (fall) - Raptor Center developed
1984- 3-acre prairie planted next to Falcon Shelter
1985 (April) - name changed from “Macbride Field Campus” to Macbride Nature Recreation Area
1997 - First Osprey Reintroduced back into Iowa from Macbride Nature Recreation Area
2000s
2017 - First Natural Resources Land Manager hired
2020 - Derecho Windstorm damages most of Macbride Nature Recreation Area
2022 - University of Iowa Landscape Services takes over stewardship of Macbride Nature Recreation Area natural resources from Recreational Services
University of Iowa Historical Affiliations
University of Iowa professor of Natural History and State Geologist Samuel Calvin began utilizing the general area for both research and instruction in geology and paleontology.
Thomas Hudson Macbride, a naturalist and botanist professor, department head of Botany, and the tenth president of the University of Iowa (and notably where Macbride Nature Recreation Area got its name from) often collaborated closely with Samuel Calvin. Through his work, passion for the outdoors and as the first president of the Iowa Park and Forestry Association, he promoted the development of state parks, including Lake Macbride and the Lake Macbride State Park.
Professor and well-known naturalist, conservationist and botanist, Bohumal Shimek of the University of Iowa, conducted a preliminary survey of major animal habitats of the land that is now called Macbride Nature Recreation Area in 1913-1919. The records were included in the University of Iowa Studies in Natural History, the Animal Ecology of Johnson County, Volume VIII Number 1. In addition to Professor B. Shimek, Professors Dr. Frank A. Stromstem, G.L Houser, Daniel Milton Brumfield PH.D. and Mr. H.M.Trusler were also involved in the project.
Aerial photos taken of the land in 1950-1958 by historical landscape photographer Frederick W. Kent are featured in the University of Iowa Collections and are often utilized to tell the history of the land in the area.
University of Iowa began a land stewardship role in 1959 managing the land under a lease from the Army Corps of Engineers which is continued to this day with the mission of restoring and preserving the natural resources of the area for education, research and recreation.
UI Department of Public Safety
As a University-managed area, the Macbride Nature Recreation Area is serviced by the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety. If you experience issues while visiting the MNRA (locked inside the park, car issues, etc.), please contact UI Police at the non-emergency line: 319-335-5022.
Note: If there is an emergency, call 9-1-1.