Parks
Camp, romp and hike at Iowa’s beautiful parks
Tourists walk through the Dancehall Cave at Maquoketa Caves State Park
By Jan Clarke
Iowa.com
Whether you’re looking for a structured outdoor experience or more of a free-for-all, Iowa’s parks are the place to be!
Iowa has plenty of community parks with green space, playgrounds, and other kid-friendly activities.
Been there, done that? Head into the wild and discover tall-grass prairie, limestone palisades, hardwood forests, tranquil lakes and rushing rivers—all right here in Iowa!
Iowa’s state and county parks and recreation areas offer programs and events year round, from trail hikes guided by naturalists to triathlons.
Many park trails encourage a variety of sports, including hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Dogs are welcome, but check out the local regulations.
Our state parks offer modern and non-modern camping, as well as cabins and sites with electrical hook-ups. In addition, many parks have sites that are wheelchair accessible. Half of the campsites can be reserved by using the online reservation system; the other half are first come, first serve.
Iowa’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs are home to many water sports, including swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Want to take a trip into the past? Iowa has four national parks, each with its own historical significance: Effigy Mounds National Monument, the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail.
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April 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I have read a few of your posts and they are all interesting and informative…keep up the good work.