We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Strangest Hiking Trail Name in Iowa

The Hawkeye State is home to hundreds upon hundreds of miles of wonderful hiking trails. Many of them are descriptive and alert hikers to what they should expect upon setting out. Take, for example, the High Trestle Trail, which runs between Ankeny and Woodward. It's a rail trail that, as the name implies, crosses the Des Moines River on a former railroad trestle that rises more than 120 feet above the river valley. Pretty straightforward, right? Other trails bear more whimsical monikers. The Backbone Trail, in Backbone State Park near Dundee, for instance, is named for a narrow spine of limestone carved by a sharp curve in the Maquoketa River. It's the highest point in northeastern Iowa, and when I was it kid, it was called, perhaps more ominously, "the Devil's Backbone." Looking at the unusual rock formation, though, its resemblance to a spine is not difficult to see, so the name makes sense, unlike the names of certain other Iowa trails, which—if you ask me—are downright strange. And I think the strangest hiking trail name in Iowa is probably the Squire Shore, Weasel Run, Mushroom Forest Trail at the Coralville Lake Recreation Area.

Despite the name of this trail complex, I cannot guarantee that you'll run into any squires or weasels during your hike. You will, however, enjoy 3.6 miles of moderately challenging, forested trail on this loop through the bottomlands of the Iowa River and along the shores of Coralville Lake. You'll also have a pretty good chance of spotting some cool birds along the trail, especially during spring and fall migration. The American white pelicans that travel through the area are some of my favorites.

Depending on the season in which you're hiking, you are likely to encounter some mushrooms along this forest trail—or at the very least, fungi growing on the trunk of a tree or an old stump. In the spring, you may even encounter much sought-after morels, and later in the summer, you could stumble across more colorful varieties, like turkey tails and yellow chanterelles. Although neither "Weasel Run" nor "Mushroom Forest" imply wildflowers, you'll also find plenty of these woodland beauties blooming along the trails during warmer weather, from Dutchman's breeches in the spring to delicate ghost pipes in the late summer. No matter when you hike, there's plenty to see.

All in all, this is a beautiful hike, and no matter what you think of the trail name, it should be on your hiking bucket list, if it isn't already. Once you've completed it, be sure to head into nearby Iowa City and treat yourself to pizza at one of my favorite pizzerias on the planet, A & A Pagliai's Pizza. The crusty is crispy, the sauce is tangy, and the pies are tossed fresh right in front of you. It's a fitting reward for a strangely-named trail well hiked.

What are some of the strangest trail names in Iowa that you've come across? We'd love to hear about them.