The Hoover Nature Trail (HNT) is a crushed limestone rail trail in eastern Iowa that follows the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad route between Burlington and Cedar Rapids.
[1] Portions of the trail are in varying stages of development, with sections near Ely, West Branch, Nichols, Columbus Junction and Morning Sun completed.
There has been a renewed push lately[2] to connect the HNT with other trails in eastern Iowa.
When the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad went bankrupt, Milly Gregg led a group of West Liberty, Iowa residents in an attempt to preserve some features of the former Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern mainline.
Initial efforts focused on a possible steam-powered tourist line, but this proved impractical.