Hiking is an excellent way to exercise, get some fresh air, and have some natural relaxation. However, not everyone has the time or desire to go on long, strenuous hikes, which makes the best hiking trails in Iowa perfect for them. For the casual hiker who wishes to take in extraordinary views without having to struggle through harsh terrain, here are some of the best hikes in Iowa that just so happen to be under five miles long.

1. Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa
Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USA
Flickr.com/ Matt Harriger
Measuring in at just under three miles, Hitchcock Nature Center is a beautiful piece of Iowa scenery. It's a great hike for all skill levels and offers a multitude of activities as well.
2. Wildcat Den State Park, Muscatine, Iowa
Wildcat Den State Park, 1884 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA
Flickr.com/ Roberta
This is the longest hike on the list, with the trails being almost precisely 5 miles in length. Its beautiful rock formations set Wildcat Den State Park apart from other parks in Iowa, and the preserved state of the habitat makes for a truly authentic experience for any Iowan or wandering hiker.
3. Squirrel's Nest, Waterworks Park, Iowa
Waterworks Park, 200 W 1st St, Grimes, IA 50111, USA
Flickr.com/ Jeff Gitchel
Ideal for everyone from amateurs to seasoned hikers, Squirrel's Nest at Waterworks Park is a refreshing walk through the woods. Not too many people traverse this easy trail, so its seclusion makes it feel all the more authentic.
4. Ledges State Park, Boone, Iowa
Ledges State Park, P Avenue, Madrid, IA, USA
Flickr.com/ Carl Wycoff
Ledges State Park’s terrain is unusual for Iowa to say the least. The diverse geography offers hikers astonishing viewpoints and surrounds them with unforgettable scenery. Ledges is arguably the most popular spot on the list, but its wide trails make plenty of room for all sorts of visitors, and nobody should have to miss out on everything the park has to offer.

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5. Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, Dubuque, Iowa
Horseshoe Bluff Hiking Trailhead, 11346 Mines of Spain Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA
Flickr.com/ AzDesign2010
Less than a mile of rolling hills and beautiful bluffs, Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail gives hikers grand landscapes along the Mississippi. A favorite of many locals, this hidden gem is known to be slightly more challenging than most hikes on this list. Test your vigor and take in the splendid vistas this hike has to offer.
6. GreenBelt Lake Loop, Waterloo, Iowa
Greenbelt Lake, 900 Martin Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
Waterloo Leisure Services
Perhaps the easiest hike on the list, Greenbelt Lake Loop takes visitors along the waterfront for a pleasant stroll. The water is clean, the land is hearty, and there is never a day that wouldn’t be a bit more wholesome without taking a hike such as this.
7. Woodpecker Trail, Coralville, Iowa
Woodpecker Trail, Woodpecker Nature Trail, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
Flickr.com/ Alan Light
This is a mild, 4.7-mile hike ideal for those who don't mind breaking a sweat. The trail is also near Coralville Reservoir, so visitors may fish or swim if they choose to.
8. Browns Woods, West Des Moines, Iowa
South 9th Lane, S 9th Ln, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA
Flickr.com/ Mark Plummer
Another venue near Des Moines, Browns Woods is a popular trail for hiking and running. This 2-mile trail has wide paths that allow for large groups to traverse it with ease. Take your family, friends, or just enjoy the scenery by your lonesome for a truly pure experience.
Whitewater Canyon, 29912 9th Ave, Bernard, IA 52032, USA
Tim Noonan/AllTrails
Whitewater Canyon is a very unique Iowan landmark. It features cliffs as high as 200 feet, and there are plenty of gorgeous views packed into its short 2.5-mile looped trail.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go! You only have so much free time, and what better way to spend it than hiking the beautifully diverse Iowa parks? Which trails would you call the best hikes in Iowa? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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Best Hikes in Iowa

Tori Jane | July 13, 2022

Where are the best scenic hikes in Iowa?  

Did you know there are more than 700 wonderful hiking trails in Iowa? It’s true – and they’ve been made into trails for a reason. Usually, that reason is that the area is outrageously beautiful and that leaves us with plentiful scenic hikes in Iowa to choose from.

  • Some of our favorites include the famed Maquoketa Caves Loop, a 1.7-mile trek through Maquoketa Caves State Park that’s beautiful enough on its own even if you don't check the caves out.
  • Another amazing hiking trail in Iowa is the challenging (but worth it) 6.3-mile adventure in the Hitchcock Nature Area known as the Dozer Cut, Bunker Hill, and Badger Ridge Trail Loop. It combines the best trails in the park and we are hopelessly in love with it.  

 

What are some wonderful kid-friendly hikes around Iowa?  

Of course, considering Iowa isn’t the most mountainous place in the world, there are lots of wonderful, easy trails you’re sure to love – and many are short enough that even young kids can enjoy them!

  • Take the kids on one of our breathtaking kid-friendly hikes around Iowa, like the two-mile-long Cedar Cliff Trail at Palisades-Kepler State Park. It’s as popular as it is beautiful, so be ready for lots of friendly faces.
  • Another favorite is the one-mile-long Backbone State Park Trail Loop, which follows a narrow ridge along the bends of the river.  

 

What are some excellent easy hikes in Iowa?  

Now, how about some longer ones? We’re a big fan of easy hikes in Iowa, even when they’re long!

  • Some of our favorite longer hikes include the Hickory Hill Loop, which is astonishingly lush, green, and hilly, and comes in at 2.6 miles long.
  • Want a longer one? Head to Jester Park and hit the 8.6-mile Saylorville Lakeshore Trail, which is as scenic and lovely as it sounds.
  • Another gem is the 9.3-mile hidden treasure known as the Walnut Creek Trail, at Greenwood Park.
  • Finally, if you go hard, you can’t miss the Neal Smith Trail at Big Creek State Park. It’s an impressive 25.2 miles long, and you’ll want to do it all ASAP!  

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