You'll Want To Visit These 11 Iowa Parks Over And Over Again
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Rachel Morey Flynn
Author
Visiting new places is a lot of fun, especially when you have time to really slow down and take a look around. These 11 awesome Iowa parks are worth a trip if you haven’t seen them. If you have already visited these parks, you’ll understand why they are on our list of parks that you’ll want to visit over and over again.
Waubonsie State Park, located in the scenic Loess Hills, is a dream come true for horse riders and hikers. There are seven miles of trails that take visitors through valleys and gorges that are unique in Iowa. Wildlife, landforms, and breathtaking views are ready and waiting at this beautiful park.
This is 1,653-acre park with a historic site where early Mormon pioneers stayed. There are 19 Native American burial mounds and 200-year-old trees here, as well. The 30-acre lake offers recreation and relaxation.
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This park is a favorite of trail lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The park is 1,380 acres and it's located close to Dubuque. Visitors report seeing bald eagles, hawks, and bobcats. Trails are ideal for mountain biking.
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This park offers some of the best Iowa hiking. Dolomite limestone ridges offer an exceptional view of the surrounding terrain, including the Maquoketa River and the valley.
The rapids here draw paddlers along the state-designated water trail that runs through this park. The Yellow River State Forest is 8,503 acres so there's lots of opportunity to explore on foot or on the water.
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Migrating waterfowl and wildlife at this park are fun to watch from the shallow backwaters by paddle. This park is the backwater area of Lake Red Rock, which is the largest lake in Iowa.
With over 900 acres of woodlands and prairie, this park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the state. There are 12 miles of trails here and a 17-acre lake. Visitors report seeing muskrats, coyotes, raccoons, turkeys, foxes, and deer.
For those that are looking for a caving adventure, this is the ideal Iowa park. Bring a flashlight and wear old clothes, because some of the caves are very narrow.
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If you'd rather scale the rock wall than climb into it, Pictured Rocks is your park. There's rock climbing and hiking available here for every ability level.
Situated next to the 11,000-acre Rathbun Lake, Honey Creek Resort is a great place to spend time on the water. There are 40 boat slips, a fishing pier, and a boat launch. You can rent paddle boats, pontoons, kayaks, jet skis, and canoes here.
There are 12 miles of hiking trails here, with beautiful views of the Loess Hills. Spend some extended time in the RV & tent campground and enjoy archery, picnics, and the playground.
Do you have any other suggestions for Iowa parks that you love to visit again and again? Let us know in the comments.
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