Ah, Spring. Is there any more beautiful time of year? It’s when nature comes out of hibernation and starts spreading color all over the place – and there’s no better way to enjoy it than on a springtime wildflower hike in Iowa. Many of Iowa’s most popular parks are packed when spring rolls around, as people take advantage of the nicer weather to hit some bucket list nature spots. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any undiscovered spots in the state – and one of them is hiding within the Iowa City limits. Waterworks Prairie Park is a laid-back urban park with three miles or so of trails which take you through some beautiful fields that come alive with wildflowers in the spring and summer. This is considered an easy trail with no challenging terrain, so it makes an ideal adventure for anyone who wants to appreciate the Hawkeye State’s natural beauty in a relaxing way.

Waterworks Prairie Park is one of those hidden gems that is perfect to explore on a warm spring day.
Maria Castore/AllTrails
With well-paved trails and beautiful waterfront views, it's ideal for a laid-back hike. Leashed dogs are welcome, so bring the whole crew!
Julie Elliot/AllTrails
One of the best things about this park is that it's full of small wildflower blooms through the spring and summer.
Julie Elliot/AllTrails

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While flower-lovers will often pay a visit to this park, the trails are rarely crowded.
Julie Elliot/AllTrails
That means you should be able to take shots of the tiny flowers as they emerge from the soil without interruption.
Julie Elliot/AllTrails
You might find yourself spending all day exploring the trail, which means you'll get to see a beautiful sunset.
Julie Elliot/AllTrails
The flowers will go away eventually - but make sure to return for stunning fall colors on the trees!
Adam Zawadski/AllTrails

Have you explored Waterworks Prairie Park in the spring? Let us know what you thought of this springtime wildflower hike in Iowa in the comments section! You can see more images of the trails at the official AllTrails trail page, and if you’re planning a lot of hikes this spring, you might want to subscribe to AllTrails +. This subscription service makes it easy to always stay connected with downloadable trail maps, step-by-step directions, and other tools.

If this hike made you work up an appetite, consider stopping into Barrett’s Quality Eats in Coralville – one of Iowa’s best new bakeries and restaurants.

The Brand New Restaurant In Iowa That Locals Can’t Get Enough Of

 

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Waterworks Prairie Park, 2875 Dubuque St NE, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA