Uncover the Mysterious Underground World Hiding in Iowa’s Maquoketa Caves State Park

If you’ve ever driven through Iowa and wondered what there is to see beyond the 15 million acres of row corn, you might consider looking below the surface. Incredibly, the so-called Tall Corn State is also a cave state, especially when you consider the 1,000 caves hidden beneath the land. Most of the caves are either inaccessible or located on private land, but you can still find many of them in state and local parks. The most significant of these is Maquoketa Caves State Park, where you can find a chain of ancient caves that were carved by water and estimated to be approximately 500,000 years old.

Despite growing up in Iowa and living less than two hours away, I had never visited Maquoketa Caves State Park until a few years ago. This is particularly odd, considering I love caves. But isn’t this the same tale of so many? Of locals who forget to explore their own backyard and ultimately miss out on a lifetime of experiencing the world's most beautiful places. 

For me, it took several decades away and having my own kids before I realized I’d never taken the time to appreciate where I come from. Seeing Maquoketa Caves was a big reality check for me. I had lived here half my life and really knew next to nothing about Iowa. Ironically, I’ve traveled far and wide only to discover that these caves, right here in Iowa, are among the best I’ve ever seen. They’re also free to visit, and the 2-mile trail that loops through 13 caves can be accessed just a few feet from the parking lot.

The scenery at Maquoketa Caves is unexpected and spectacular. Many of the caves are so large that they include paved or wooden sidewalks, staircases, and lighted hallways. Others are much smaller and require crouching, crawling, or squeezing to get through. Fortunately, one of the best things about the trail is that getting down on the ground and getting dirty is never required. Of course, my kids love such an opportunity, but me? Not so much. 

My favorite part of the caves is their location in a dense, old-growth forest. Visiting this state park is just as much a woodland experience as it is an underground attraction in Iowa. Weaving in and out of the dolomite walls and into the vibrant foliage is an exceptional experience of contrasts, dark and light, wet and dry, cold and warm, rough and lush.

Another part of Maquoketa Caves State Park's allure is knowing we can’t visit whenever we want to. Although the wider park is accessible year-round, the caves are closed to foot traffic from mid-October through mid-April. This is part of a conservation effort to protect the bats that hibernate here during the winter. I love knowing they are safely sleeping there through the cold months, but each spring, I find myself watching the calendar for opening day and each fall, trying to squeeze in one more visit before the caves close. Fortunately, there area plenty of other state parks in Iowa that are wonderful for winter adventures.

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