This One Easy Hike In Iowa Will Lead You Someplace Unforgettable

People who aren’t from the Midwest are typically caught off guard by the flatness of the land. Thousands of years ago, the land was quite literally carved into its design by a massive migration of melting glaciers. This gives the Midwest its relatively flat geography. It may seem refreshing to out-of-towners, but to the residents of Iowa, it’s anything but new. Interestingly enough, there’s a small chunk of northeast Iowa that escaped these glacial drifts, known as the Driftless Area. Way up here, non-glacial erosion has chipped away at the landscape for hundreds and thousands of years, making for some truly unique sites that will make most Iowans forget what state they’re in. If you follow this hiking trail in Maquoketa Caves State Park, you are sure to understand what I mean.

Flickr.com/ Phil Roeder

Flickr.com/ Phil Roeder

Maquoketa Caves State Park has more caves than any other state park in Iowa, and it has undergone construction so that much of the sites are easily accessible for all.

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Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

Not only are the caves spectacular, but the paths you embark upon are teeming with natural beauty.

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Flickr.com/ Phil Roeder

Flickr.com/ Brandon Newendorp

It is estimated this site has been appreciated by humans for thousands of years. Archaeologists and visitors have discovered artifacts such as arrowheads and pottery, most likely remnants of Native Americans. Looking at these photos, it isn't hard to imagine what brought them here.

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Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

Not much is known about the Native Americans who frequented the caves, but its 20th century history is well documented.

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Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

The park was purchased in the Roaring Twenties, and construction began during the thirties as an attempt to instigate job growth during the Great Depression. Workers built picnic shelters, stone bridges, and many other structures to make the site more accessible to the populous.

Flickr.com/ Michael Kappel

These beautiful limestone caves are marveled at to this day. Whether you want to take your friends or family somewhere wonderful, or you want to appreciate the natural grace the world carved the caves with all on your lonesome, this spot certainly can't be missed.

Some of the caves take a bit more dextrous maneuvering to see, but much can be viewed by any able-bodied individual. The sites are stunning, the hike is miraculous, and you’re sure to never forget this trip. Have you ever journeyed into the caves? Share your adventures in the comment section below!