Ledges State Park is a wondrous place filled with canyons, bluffs and rock formations and it’s a must-visit spot for nature lovers and those who simply enjoy a gorgeous view. The short hike to Table Rock rewards hikers with an incredible vista of the valley below.

The park is located four miles south of Boone, along Pea’s Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River. The creek cuts through a deep gorge here – it reaches 100-feet-deep in places – and Table Rock provides visitors with a spectacular vantage point. Here’s what you need to know about the hike to Table Rock and what you can see.

Ledges State Park opened in 1924, one of Iowa's first state parks. The park has stone buildings and bridges constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and many beautiful spots.
Kristin Michele / AllTrails
People have had a long presence here. Long before Europeans arrived in Iowa, the park was home to Native Americans, including the Sauk, Fox and Sioux. The earliest evidence of humans dates back about 4,000 years.
Melanie Rose / AllTrails
The park's spectacular sandstone bluffs are the product of melting glaciers - water from the glaciers cut through ancient sandstone. The formations happened about 13,000 years ago.
Kimberly Garcia / AllTrails

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The hike to Table Rock is popular and easy to follow. The trail is short - just over half a mile in length- but it gains 164 feet in elevation so it's not the easiest hike in Iowa.
Matt Emerson / AllTrails
The park has a few prairie areas and a large number of basswood, maple, oak and hickory trees.
Chris Ewan / AllTrails
When you see the view, you'll be glad you took on the challenge.
Mikael Brown / AllTrails

There’s a lot to experience in and around Ledges State Park. The park has camping and picnic areas and the nearby Des Moines River offers paddling and fishing opportunities. Looking for other great Iowa nature scenes? Here are 13 state parks you have to visit.

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Ledges State Park, P Avenue, Madrid, IA, USA