Iowa’s state parks have some incredible hikes, but there are also some hidden gems closer to home – in Iowa’s local county parks. These laid-back destinations often have easy hikes suitable for all skill levels, and some even have some genuine surprises. I was shocked to discover that, within the city limits of Cedar Rapids, in the charming Morgan Creek Park, there was a hike that took you past an abandoned Iowa barn. The Old Barn Loop, a 1.6-mile loop trail traverses even terrain and shouldn’t take more than half an hour to complete – but it packs a lot into this short distance. Not only is this a beautiful nature hike perfect for a fall day, but it takes you to a site that leaves more questions than it offers answers, and may just set your imagination working with ideas of what might have happened here in decades past…

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Have you hiked the Old Barn Loop in Morgan Creek Park? Tell us about your visit to this trail past an abandoned Iowa barn in the comments section! You can see more pictures and find out more information about the Old Barn loop at AllTrails, and visit the Linn County website for more information on Morgan Creek Park. While you’re in Cedar Rapids, why not check out Iowa’s most beautiful library? If you’re planning a lot more hikes like this one, you might want to subscribe to Alltrails + for benefits like downloadable trail maps, so you can stay connected even in remote areas.

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