4 Places in Iowa Locals Hope Tourists Never Discover

There are many popular destinations in the Hawkeye State that attract visitors by the thousands—and usually for good reason: They're beautiful or fun or fascinating, or all of the above. Locals, however, may sometimes grow tired of sharing a beloved spot with tons of visitors, so they seek out places where they can find similar experiences without the crowds. Growing up in the eastern part of the state, I came to learn about a few relatively undiscovered gems in Iowa that have managed to stay off tourists' radars, at least when compared to similar nearby spots. Here are a few places that locals love in Iowa that you may find less crowded than better-known tourist spots.

1. Ice Cave - Decorah

Native Iowans and visitors to the Hawkeye State who love underground exploration may be fairly familiar with the popular Maquoketa Caves State Park or the commercially operated Spook Cave near McGregor. These are wonderful tourist spots for front-country adventures and exploration. Those in the know, however, may prefer to do their spelunking in lesser-known spots—spots that aren't nearly as popular and that you're more likely to have to yourself. One such example is Wildcat Cave, near Eldora. Officials warn against casual exploration of the system in this preserve, though.

Another, more user-friendly but off-the-beaten-track cave that you can spend some time exploring is located in the charming northeast Iowa town of Decorah. You'll find Ice Cave State Preserve along the forested bluffs above the Upper Iowa River. The cave earned its moniker from its unique geology, which keeps the year-round interior temperatures cool enough that ice formed in the winter never quite melts before the next winter rolls around. It's a fascinating local gem that many outside Winneshiek County may not be aware of.

2. Kalona

Every year, tourists and locals alike flock—by the hundreds of thousands—to Iowa's Amana Colonies. While there's no denying the charms of the historical traditions, culture, and food of this German Pietist enclave, the Colonies can often feel overrun with visitors, making everything from parking to buying a pie seem like a chore. What many locals know and fewer visitors realize is that you can find similar homestyle cooking and baking—and even a historical village—in the charming Amish town of Kalona. For those in the Iowa City area, Kalona is the same distance from town (about half an hour) as the Amana Colonies—and you'll usually have a lot more personal space while you're exploring.

3. Effigy Mounds National Monument - Harpers Ferry

We've covered Effigy Mounds National Monument—the premier National Park Service unit in the Hawkeye State—quite a bit. Nevertheless, I continue to be flabbergasted at how few visitors it receives, especially when compared to nearby state parks with similar or even less dramatic natural offerings. For example, in 2024, just under 62,000 people visited Effigy Mounds. In contrast, Backbone State Park, which is located one county—less than 1 hour of driving time—away from Effigy Mounds, received more than 10 times the number of annual visitors. Pikes Peak State Park, which is literally minutes down the road (around 7 miles south) from Effigy Mounds, saw more than 300,000 annual visitors.

This hidden gem near Harpers Ferry, Iowa, remains a wonderful place to enjoy many of the same views as those offered by Pikes Peak, as well as more dramatic hiking trails with fascinating history than those of Backbone. You may even have the trails and the sweeping views of the Mississippi River valley to yourself.

4. Woodman Hollow State Preserve - Otho

With both Brushy Creek State Recreation Area and Dolliver Memorial State Park nearby, many folks overlook or may not even be aware of Woodman Hollow State Preserve. It's located within spitting distance of Fort Dodge, Iowa, along the Des Moines River valley, and it's home to one of the only natural waterfalls in central Iowa. The preserve, however, is rustic with no development, and getting to the waterfall requires hiking a mile, out and back, along an unmaintained trail. The reward is some time to yourself with one of the best waterfalls in Iowa.

Have you visited any of these places in the Hawkeye State? We'd love to hear what you think, and if you have any recommendations for other places locals love in Iowa, we'd love to hear about them.

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