6 awesome natural wonders in Iowa

Learn about six awe-inspiring natural wonders in Iowa, from a scenic byway to the Maquoketa Caves and more.  

Iowa is a naturally beautiful state. There are rolling hills (just ask anyone who has completed RAGBRAI), wide open prairies, unique rock formations created by glaciers ages ago, and woodland trails galore. While much of the land has been altered to provide farmland and growing suburban landscapes, there are still spots scattered about the state that are truly awe-inspiring.

Read on to find out more about six of the state’s natural gems that you simply have to see.

1. Loess Hills Scenic Byway

Near the western border of the state you will find the Loess Hills. This area features a landscape created by wind-blown soils from the glacial periods. It is about 15 miles wide and spans some 200 miles from north to south (all the way down into Missouri), covering some 640,000 acres in Iowa. The sandy soil dunes measure at least 60 feet in height.

Although deposits of loess are found across the world, nowhere else but China are those deposits higher than they are in Iowa. There is evidence that Ice Age animals like the wooly mammoth, giant sloth, and beaver traveled through the area. And humans lived on the land for as many as 6,000 years, as evidenced by the stone tools and spear points that have been found.

Today, the Loess Hills are a wonderful area for hiking and birding. You might see magpies, sandpipers, kingbirds, bald eagles, and many more. 

Photo courtesy of BillyBlueJay/ CC BY-SA 4.0.

2. Maquoketa Caves State Park

In Eastern Iowa, you’ll find Maquoketa Caves State Park, which offers a completely different outdoor experience. Here you’ll find lush vegetation and cool caverns to pop into. In fact, the park has the most caves of any state park in Iowa.

The 1,100-foot “Dancehall Cave” is the most prominent, but there are 13 others to explore including Herrnado’s Hideaway, Shinbone Cave and Wye Cave. Keep in mind that you might have to crawl into tight spaces.

There are six miles of trails to explore that will lead you through the forest and into unique geological formations. The park first opened in the 1860s, so it’s been a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts in Iowa for many years. Don’t forget your flashlight or headlamp!

3. Volga River State Recreation Area

Northeastern Iowa is a truly unique geological zone known as the Driftless region. The Volga River State Recreation Area is sometimes called “Little Switzerland” because of its rugged topography. The 5,700 acres covered by the Volga River State Recreation Area feature lush forest and breathtaking rock formations and, of course, the picturesque Volga River.

The area is known as a wildlife haven and the prime spot for fishing, especially for those looking to catch bluegill, crappie, and bass. It’s also a popular spot for hiking (especially as fall colors settle in) and for canoeing and kayaking on the serene river. 

4. Pikes Peak State Park

Located on the bluffs overlooking McGregor on the eastern side of the state, Pikes Peak State Park is known for its view as the mighty Mississippi River meets the Wisconsin River. Towering 500 feet above the waterways below, this is a great spot for a strenuous hike up to the park’s main attraction, Point Ann Overlook. The panoramic views offer some of the best you can find in Iowa, especially in the fall.

Centuries ago, the Native Americans of the Woodland Culture inhabited the area. Evidence of their presence can be seen in the sculpted earthen “effigy” mounds in the shapes of animals to celebrate their connection to Mother Earth. The area was explored by white settlers in the early 1800s, including Zebulon Pike, who noted the area as a strategic point for a military post. He is the same Pike who went on to name Pike’s Peak in Colorado as well.

Photo courtesy of McGhiever/CC BY-SA 3.0.

5. Devonial Fossil Gorge

Near Iowa City, you’ll find the opportunity to walk around on a 375 million-year-old ocean floor. The Devonian Fossil Gorge allows visitors to look into the geological history of the state, dating back to some 200 million years before the dinosaurs.

It was first discovered after extreme flooding in 1993 and was further expanded after flooding in 2008. Ever since, it has been a place to explore the fossils embedded in the rock as you wander around the area.

You’ll see coral, crinoids, brachiopods, and more from when Iowa was once south of the equator and covered by warm, shallow seas similar to the Caribbean.

Photo courtesy of Alan Light/CC BY 2.0.

6. Ledges State Park

A visit to Ledges State Park, centrally located in the state near Madrid, takes you into one of the most historic state parks in Iowa. There are four miles of hiking trails that wander through the park. The park houses steep slopes, scenic overlooks, and 100-foot sandstone ledges along the Des Moines River. There’s also beautiful stone bridge, built in the 1930s, to cross over Pea’s Creek.

Be prepared for a workout on a hike as there are steep inclines. It’s also delightful to wander through Pea’s Creek on a hot day. 

Photo courtesy of Carl Wycoff/CC BY 2.0.

As you explore, consider downloading the Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s Iowa State Passport to keep track of your adventures to Iowa’s many outdoor recreation spots. Check in to any state parks you visit and you can win prizes, too.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.