There are so many advantages to hiking along an Iowa lake shore. It’s often a great place to spot wildlife. It’s sometimes cooler than the surrounding towns or fields, which can be quite a bonus during certain seasons of the year. And the views are guaranteed to be glimmeringly blue and beautiful. That’s all certainly the case at Appanoose County’s Lake Rathbun, located near Moravia.
The rolling hills of southern Iowa mixed with Lake Rathbun make for an enjoyable day of hiking and views at Honey Creek State Park and the park's next-door neighbor, Honey Creek Resort State Park.
Featuring over five miles of trails across groomed fields, through wild woods, or along peaceful stretches of lakeshore, these parks offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy views of the lake as well as woodland and meadows along your way.
There are many excellent hikes at Honey Creek State Park that will take you to Lake Rathbun, ranging from the 1-mile Bay View Trail to the 0.1-mile Acorn or Oak Trails (and almost every length in between).
Woodland Indigenous Americans once dwelt in this area, and it's no puzzle to understand why as you hike through these gentle hills. While the land today is mostly untouched by their presence long ago, eleven mysterious burial and artifacts mounds remain in Honey Creek State Park. Of special note, then, the Woodland Interpretive Trail (a lakeside trail labeled on the map as "Indian Mound Trail") includes an informative kiosk to spark your curiosity.
If you want to stay overnight, there is a campground right in Honey Creek State Park offering several cabins as well as many campsites. The state park is open year-round.
The nearby Honey Creek Resort has something for everyone including luxury accommodations, indoor and outdoor water parks, golfing, and watersports rentals.
An additional attraction near Rathbun is a fish hatchery that supplies warm-water species for the entire state and is open for self-guided tours year-round from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Have you explored the many pleasant trails leading to Lake Rathbun? For more information, trail maps, reserving a spot in the campground, and more, visit Iowa DNR’s Honey Creek State Park website. For more information on Honey Creek Resort State Park and all the amazing amenities they offer, including their indoor and outdoor water parks, check this article’s helpful breakdown.
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