7 Lesser-Known State Parks In Iowa That Will Absolutely Amaze You
Kim Magaraci
Author
Iowa’s state parks draw millions of visitors every year, and there’s no doubt you’ve heard about the incredible overlooks at Pikes Peak and the stunning trails at Maquoketa Cave State Park. Backbone State Park is another Hawkeye favorite and, being the oldest state park in Iowa, it’s full of history. However, sometimes it is nice to stray from the beaten path a bit and find a place where you can feel like you’re in another world. These often overlooked, quiet state parks in Iowa are some of the best spots to explore when you want to get away from it all.
Related Stories
The View From This Little-Known Overlook In Iowa Is Almost Too Beautiful For Words
Take This Unforgettable Road Trip To 4 Of Iowa's Least-Visited State Parks
This State Park In Iowa Is So Little Known, You'll Practically Have It To Yourself
What’s your favorite of Iowa’s little-known state parks? Tell us in the comments – we love to hear from you!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
State Parks to Visit in Iowa
What are the most popular hiking trails in Iowa?
Okay, so Iowa isn’t exactly a mountainous or forested kind of place, but don’t let that fool you – it's home to plenty of amazing hiking trails! According to our friends at AllTrails.com, there are more than 700 awesome hiking trails throughout our beautiful state, all varying in difficulty, length, and features. The most popular trail is the challenging-but-worth-it Dozer Cut, Bunker Hill, Badger Ridge Trail Loop. It’s 6.3 miles of amazing landscapes and one-of-a-kind bliss, and it's well worth the challenge! Another much-beloved trail is the much-easier-than-Dozer-Cut Maquoketa Caves Loop, which really is as interesting as it sounds. This is an awesome area where you can explore some awesome caves, and we strongly recommend it for anyone interested in Iowa’s most sought-after landscape. Other popular hiking trails in Iowa include Brown’s Woods Trail, in West Des Moines, and Wildcat Den Trail, within Wildcat Den State Park. We also really love Mushroom Forest Trail, in Coralville Dam Recreation Area. There are over 700 more; which will you conquer first?
What are the best state parks in Iowa?
Obviously, “best” is subjective, but Iowa is home to an impressive 83 state parks and recreation areas. With so many, it’s hard to know where to begin, but why not start with the most popular? Some folks might even argue that being among the most popular parks in the state means the parks in question are the “best of”; we tend to agree. Some of the “best” state parks in Iowa include Lake Manawa State Park, which sees about 1.6 million visitors each year, and Gull Point State Park, which sees about 1.6 million visitors each year. Then there’s Big Creek State Park, Backbone State Park, Walnut Woods State Park, McIntosh Woods State Park, and several others that see more than half a million visitors yearly. Iowa may not be thought of as a destination state, but perhaps it should be. It’s uniquely beautiful, and our state parks are second to none. For some more ideas – this time involving some of the lesser-known state parks in Iowa – check this list out!