3 Hidden Spots You Didn’t Know Existed in Iowa’s Driftless Area

I love Iowa, and the unexpectedly natural beauty I find in every corner of the state. It’s hard to choose a favorite region, but when the grass turns green, I can’t help but obsessively look for things to do in Iowa’s Driftless Area. The number of hidden gems seems limitless in the bluff-riddled northeast corner of the state.

Why These Hidden Gems in Iowa’s Driftless Area Are Worth Finding

If you ask me, the Driftless Area is the best-kept secret in the Midwest. Not that it’s a secret to those who live within this 24,000 square mile pocket of paradise. Locals undoubtedly cherish it, but it’s not uncommon for folks living outside the region to have no inkling of its existence. The most visited sections of Iowa’s Driftless Area are between Dubuque and Decorah, but it stretches far beyond that trodden path. I like meandering to the lesser-visited parts, where I find myself in awe of the raw, natural beauty and unexpectedly impressive infrastructure. These are a few of my favorite hidden spots in Iowa’s Driftless Area:

Tips for Exploring Iowa’s Driftless Area Beyond the Crowds

There are quite a few phenomenal nature centers scattered throughout Iowa’s state parks. Many of Iowa’s best nature centers are within state parks, and they can get busy during the summer. A great alternative is to look for nearby county parks. Some have excellent nature centers, and the Osborne Visitor Welcome Center near Elkader is one of the best. I think it should be listed in the Top 10 things to do in Iowa’s Driftless Area. The best part for me is the Native Wildlife Exhibit, where you can see a variety of native, rescued animals in outdoor enclosures, including black bears, wolves, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. And if that’s not unexpected enough, the Osborne Park and Nature Center also has an interpretive 19th-century Pioneer Village. It features original and restored log cabins, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a barn. Additionally, the surrounding park has over 6 miles of hiking trails and direct access to the Turkey River water trail network.

State Preserves Are Lesser-Known Places for Pristine Nature

Another of my favorite lesser-known attractions in Iowa’s Driftless Area is also in Clayton County, less than 20 miles south of the Osborne Visitor Welcome Center. Bixby State Preserve is an Iowa DNR (Department of Natural Resources) property, but unlike state parks designed for public recreation, the goal of state preserves is simply to preserve areas of special geological, historical, or natural value. That means there is little formal infrastructure at Bixby State Preserve beyond primitive hiking trails. But that’s the allure of it, a place to imagine what Iowa’s Driftless Area was like before we arrived. 

County Parks Are the Best Hidden Spots

About 35 miles west of Elkader, in Fayette County, you’ll find Dutton’s Cave Park, near West Union. It’s another hidden spot in Iowa’s Driftless Area, managed by county conservation. Dutton’s Cave is a natural limestone cave carved into a 50-foot limestone wall. Archeological finds near the cave date back 4,000 years, and the limestone formations are estimated to be 350 million years old. It’s a small 50-acre park featuring picnic shelters and camping, plus trout-rich natural brooks and dense, mature forests.

What To Expect at These Secret Places in Iowa’s Driftless Area

All three hidden spots listed here are located in rural parts of Iowa in Clayton and Fayette Counties. This section of the Driftless Area has limited tourist infrastructure. The small towns within them greatly benefit from visitors supporting their local restaurants, ice cream shops, grocery stores, tackle shops, vacation rentals, local inns, campgrounds, and boutiques. Two of my favorite places to stay in this part of the region are at the Inn at Motor Mill in Elkader and this Airbnb in McGregor.