Solon to MacBride Beach

Begin where the North Shore Trail turns to crushed rock and enjoy the view, as the first 4.5 miles of this trail cover gentle, mostly-flat trail, much of it within a few feet of Lake MacBride. About 2.75 miles in, the crushed rock will end and you'll need to work your way along Opie Ave for a little less than a half mile until the crushed rock trail picks up again. In another mile and half, you'll arrive at the end of the North Shore Trail. Cross to the dirt/grass parking lot across the road, and look for the mowed path on the right. After about .1 miles, the trail will turn left into the woods along the State Park boundary line, and continue on the North Snowmobile Trail. Watch for a tricky intersection about half a mile into this trail when the more maintained fork veers left (this is part of a short interpretive trail that overlaps with the snowmobile trail), while the actual trail cuts off to the right. The turnoff is inconspicuous and in the summer can be almost entirely obscured by undergrowth. I've gone a few steps past it even when I know it's there. The North Snowmobile Trail is one of the more challenging trails in this area. It's about a mile and a half of up and down, in the summer time there's very little maintenance on the trail, so beware of nettles and poison ivy. The North Snowmobile Trail terminates in one of the park roads leading down to the dam where boats can put into the Coralville Reservoir. At this junction, turn right and head down the road along the water, and follow the road as it curves back up to a picnic area behind a park maintenance shed. Turn right and cross the picnic area, and at the far end pick up the Beach to Dam Trail. At this junction, turn left and follow the contours of Lake MacBride all the way back to the beach where the trail ends at the concession area.