Field Trips

New to Birding?
Check out this great brochure on getting started in this wonderful activity.

Christmas Bird Counts 2025 - Save the Dates!

Sunday, Dec 14th - Bremer County

Saturday, Dec 20th - Waterloo-Cedar Falls

Hardin County - TBA

Buchanan County -TBA

More details will be posted as they become available.

PRAS Field Trip Locations

If we don't have a specific field trip scheduled, feel free to go and explore on your own at these locations that we typically visit during our group field trips. If you want to lead a field trip, email Craig and Kris Rash and we will help get the word out. We are always looking for people to share their favorite spots.

Beaver Valley Wetlands Refuge. West of Cedar Falls. Meet in parking lot off N. Union Road and Beaver Valley Road. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b4dAQxd6LuD82xtV9

Big Woods Lake. Cedar Falls. Meet in the parking lot at the Big Woods Lake South Entrance. Pit toilets available. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/cAmP4Ex55jABkjKy9

Cedar Hills Sand Prairie. West of Cedar Falls. No restroom facilities .GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nZyoYCtG6s9UGwU26

Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Gilbertville. Meet at the depot west of Gilbertville off Washburn Road. Paved trails; restroom facilities at Gilbertville Depot, LaPorte City baseball park, & McFarlane Park. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/q9pSn2UEVw4zVAwP7

George Wyth State Park. Waterloo. Meet at the kiosk right inside the park entrance. Restroom facilities located within the park. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EFQAQMsQ5DV1TiD49

Greenbelt Lake (aka Martin Lake). Waterloo. Meet in the parking lot off Martin Rd, which is off Highway 63. Some paved trails. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/fmJddNHJy7RAgjnC6

Hartman Reserve Lower Level. Cedar Falls. Drive to Lookout Park and access Park Drive. Continue to the lower level parking area. No restroom facilities at this location; go to Hartman's Nature Center. Here is the GPS point for the parking area: https://goo.gl/maps/ngamVSpBWuSTgvuh9

Hickory Hills. South of Waterloo on County Rd. V37 aka Dysart Road. Meet at the archery parking lot on the west side of Hickory Hills. Pit toilets by archery shelter. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/qTVUyG8sYhkkYJja6

Irvine Prairie. 1174 55th St. Dysart. Seasonal pit toilet available in summer. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DoQSqHPyPr1jW83b6

McFarlane Park. East of LaPorte City. Park near the picnic shelter. Pit toilets by shelter; modern facilities at campground. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/npTWSe2cM7nq3sny6 Prairie Lakes. Cedar Falls Visitors Center. Cedar Falls. Meet at parking lot off Hudson Road. Paved trails; restrooms in visitor center; pit toilets also available. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/enkjhdCJNna7DQmn8

Riverview Recreation Area - Harold Getty Lake. Waterloo. At the stoplight follow Mitchell Street about 0.25 miles east of Highway 218 to the parking lot. Some paved trails. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/wcFiqZj8LbpHYbCeA

Robertson Bird Sanctuary. Waterloo. Pull into the parking lot on the left, it is located on south side of the road. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zkvN5oaYzsTUVPg69

Sweet Marsh. Bremer County. No restroom facilities. GPS Point: Sweet Marsh South Entrance Parking Lot From Tripoli, IA go east for 2.1 miles on 7th Ave SE (Co Rd 93) which will turn into 165th St. Turn north onto the gravel Sweet Marsh access road that is immediately after the road for the trailhead for the Sweetwater Creek bike trail.

Washington Union Access. North of Cedar Falls at Cedar-Wapsi Road (C-57). Parking lot is located on the south side of the road just before crossing the Cedar River Bridge. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/m1bfb7SbtSbvWEZT7