Iowa’s Whitewater Canyon Trail Leads To A Magnificent Hidden Oasis
A short drive west of Dubuque is a hiking trail that will take you to another world. The Whitewater Canyon Trail is located in a 500-acre wildlife area that has one of the state’s only true canyons. A hike here will take you past interesting geological formations, near a small cave and through some wildflowers before you reach a place thats simply amazing: the wild and winding Whitewater Creek.
It’s an adventure unlike any other in Iowa and a trail you should seek out. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of this short but rewarding hike.
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The trail is in the Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Area, which is about 20 miles southwest of Dubuque, on the boundary of Dubuque, Jackson and Jones counties. The trail is well-marked and rated as "moderate."
The loop trail covers 3.3 miles and will take you into an area of 200-foot cliffs and scenic overlooks in a narrow valley along Whitewater Creek. The unique terrain here was created when an ancient cave system collapsed between 16,000 and 20,000 years ago. The collapse created the canyons here.
You can encounter remnants of the caves. Large pieces of dolomite, some nearly 25-feet-wide, are scattered along the narrow valley floors, along with some large boulders.
The wildlife area is rich in rare plant and animal life. As you travel from the upland prairie into the canyon, you'll encounter wildflowers, mushrooms, migratory birds and small mammals.
The trail will take you to wild Whitewater Creek. When the water is high, the creek is used by paddlers, and it's always a pleasant and serene place to take in the beauty of nature.
Whitewater and Lost Canyon are about 4 miles northeast of Cascade and are accessible from Highway 151 and Curoe Road. Interested in more Iowa trail discoveries? Check out these short and scenic hikes.
Address: Whitewater Canyon Road, Iowa 52032, USA
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Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
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