Just because the weather is getting colder doesn't mean you have to be stuck indoors! The Hawkeye State's largest park offers a stunning scenic winter hike in Iowa. Visit Lake Macbride to enjoy some peace, quiet and brisk fresh air.
Lake Macbride State Park is Iowa's largest state park with more than 2,000 acres that visitors and adventurers can explore if they take their time.
In the summertime, this park is packed to the gills with hikers, kayakers, sailors, and friends on fishing adventures - but as soon as the cold weather hits, it turns into a winter wonderland.
Not only are the trails way less crowded in the winter months, but the views of the lake from every step of the trail are unobscured by leaves - meaning you can peek through the trees for views that are hidden away in the summertime!
When it's extra cold out, take a walk to the spillway and see if the waterfalls have frozen over. If they have, it's quite a sight!
The spillways typically don't freeze until well into winter, and if they're still flowing, you'll be able to relax to the sound of the rushing water in the silence of the sparsely populated park.
While it's technically a man-made structure, the natural look of the Lake Macbride spillway makes it one of the most beautiful cascades in Iowa.
Take a winter hike through Lake Macbride State Park and see what it feels like to have Iowa's largest state park all to yourself!
The more time you spend in Lake Macbride, the more you'll be convinced this is the best winter hike in Iowa. Learn more about seasonal restrictions and the year-round camping facilities when you visit the Iowa DNR website, here.
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