Introduction
Iowa is full of natural beauty that deserves to be explored. There are many state parks, trails and other outdoor areas with trails for you and your family to enjoy. This blog post will give an overview of some of the top places in Iowa for hiking and other outdoor adventure activities.
River to River Trail
The River to River Trail is a scenic rail trail that runs from Davenport to Clinton and passes through Bettendorf, Eldridge, Le Claire and West Burlington. The trail also crosses the Mississippi River on an old railroad bridge in downtown Clinton. The trail is nearly 70 miles long and offers a variety of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities.
The River to River Trail can be accessed from several locations along its route including:
- Davenport (via Western Gateway Heritage Trail)
- Bettendorf (via Central Park)
- Eldridge Park at Hickory Street; you’ll need to cross the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks before reaching the park entrance
- NorthPark Mall at West Kimberly Road; follow walkway south towards parking lot
To find out more about this great resource visit: https://www.rivertorivertrail.org/
Ledges State Park
Ledges State Park is located about an hour north of Des Moines in Boone County, Iowa. It has a variety of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and more. Many of these trails lead to scenic overlooks with panoramic views.
To get there:
- From I-35 head north on US 169 for 31 miles
- Turn right onto Ledges State Park Road (CR QQ) for 1 mile
- The park entrance is on your left at the top of the hill
North Country Trail
The North Country Trail is a hiking trail that runs along the border between New York and North Dakota. The trail begins in New York and passes through Minnesota before making its way to Iowa. In Iowa, it passes through seven different state parks: Ledges State Park, Pikes Peak State Park, Moravia Recreation Area (which includes the Turkey Hollow Wildlife Management Area), Lake Ahquabi State Park, Yellow River State Forest/Yellow River Forest Reserve (with access from Dubuque County Natural Resources), Aspen Glen State Park and Tama City Forest Preserve/Tama Hills Nature Center (where you can hike on paved trails). You can also access the trail from other areas along its length in Iowa including: Springbrook Prairie Natural Area or Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge which has an extension called Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge—both located near Des Moines; Little Sioux Recreation Area off Highway 6 about two hours south of Sioux City; Black Hawk-Lakota Territory near Council Bluffs; Pioneer Village at Mormon Crossing Historic Site near Missouri Valley; Thousand Hills State Park near Shellsburg; Yellow Banks County Park near Decorah; Hawkeye Point Regional Park near Kalona; and John Deere Commons in Charles City
The trail crosses several major rivers including Cedar River which flows into Big Sioux River then rages over dramatic cliffs at Falls Of The Big Sioux Gorge before joining with Missouri River just across Nebraska border into Omaha area where Lewis & Clark expedition began their journey westward more than 200 years ago.
Tallgrass Trail
While the Tallgrass Trail is 1,200 miles long and runs through Iowa, Kansas and Missouri (and technically Oklahoma), it is only 60 miles of that trail that pass through Iowa. The rest of the route can be found in other states. This is because the trail was created in the 1970s as a way to protect from development certain natural areas that were threatened by encroaching farmers looking to buy up land and turn it into farmland or grazing fields for cattle.
To follow this path through Iowa, you’ll need to know where you’re going! Luckily, there are mile markers along each section of trail that help guide hikers along their journey. These markers are marked with yellow blazes—a symbol used by hikers everywhere—which should make finding your way easier than ever before! There aren’t any fees associated with hiking here; however there are many different ecosystems along each stretch which means lots of different types of terrain including mountainside trails and flatland paths through dense forested areas on top of hillsides overlooking rivers below them
Green Valley State Park
Green Valley State Park is a great place to go hiking, biking, and fishing. The park has several trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.
There are several trails that can be accessed from the main campground:
- Hickory Creek Trail – 2 miles round trip; easy to moderate difficulty level
- Hickory Ridge Trail – 5 miles round trip; moderate difficulty level
- Lake Loop Trail – 1 mile round trip; easy difficulty level
A DNR guide to Walnut Woods State Park
- Where is Walnut Woods State Park?
- What kind of trails are there?
- What can you expect at the park?
Located in the middle of Iowa City, this wooded park is a great place to go for an outdoor adventure. It’s open year-round and offers a variety of hiking trails for all levels. If you’re looking for something more strenuous, try the 6-mile loop trail that takes about two hours to complete (you can cut it short if time is an issue). The 2.5-mile Cross Country Ski Trail is another popular option. There’s also plenty of space available for camping, picnicking and enjoying nature at its finest with your friends or family members!
Brown’s Lake Bog
The Brown’s Lake Bog is a recreational area near the town of Marion, Iowa. The bog itself is a natural feature that has been preserved, and it includes a variety of wildlife and plant species.
To get to the bog, follow Highway 59 south out of Marion (about 6 miles) until you see signs for Brown’s Lake State Park; turn left and follow the signs for about half a mile until you reach an entrance gate. Once inside, park in one of two free lots (one closer to the water or one closer to where most people start their hike) and then proceed down one of three trails: shortest (1/2 mile), middle (1 mile), or longest (2 miles). The trailheads are marked with signs indicating which direction each takes you on your way toward “The Bogs.” A short spur leads from this point directly into The Bogs themselves—a lowland wetland filled with cattails, shrubs and trees like tamarack pines growing up out of peaty soil underneath them all year round thanks to their roots being submerged in water most days throughout wintertime too!
Maquoketa Caves State Park
Located near the town of Maquoketa, this park has two caves open to the public. The first is a large cave that was once home to a local family as well as a military installation during World War II. The second cave is not as large but still has some interesting features including formations like stalactites and stalagmites, underground streams and waterfalls. Both caves are open year-round so plan your trip accordingly!
Maquoketa Caves State Park also has camping options for those who want a longer stay or would like something more comfortable than an overnight backpacking trip – there are campsites available with showers and restrooms nearby. If camping isn’t your thing, there are also cabins available for rent at the park (rentals include linens).
Iowa is full of natural beauty that deserves to be explored.
Iowa is full of natural beauty that deserves to be explored. There are plenty of hiking trails in Iowa, and many are connected to each other and different states.
State parks with trails are great places to explore the outdoors in Iowa, including:
- Black Hawk State Park – West Okoboji Lake entrance has a short trail loop as well as access to other trails that lead into the surrounding area.
- Ledges State Park – Hiking on small gravel paths through wooded areas, around ponds and prairies leads up to ledges overlooking the Mississippi River valley. The trail continues along a ridgeline with views into Nebraska but is not maintained beyond this point due to land ownership issues south of Iowa’s border with Nebraska (the state line follows the north bank of the river).
Conclusion
The trails of Iowa are full of beauty and wonder waiting for you to discover. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing hike or a challenging climb, there’s something here for everyone. So get out there, explore the natural world and enjoy yourself!