![]() Hike along the bluffs of the Cedar River, wind through forested ravines of mature hardwood trees, and enjoy the breathtaking views. Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mount Vernon There are two parcels of Lake Macbride State Park - for hiking, you’ll want the one in Solon. There is also a 5-mile out-and-back (10 miles total) North Shore Trail that takes you to the town of Solon, as well as other trails to explore. Park at the beach and hike the beach-to-dam trail, an out-and-back (about 3 miles total) that takes you through the woods along the picturesque lake and to a gorgeous waterfall perfect for little kids to wade and splash. Lake Macbride State Park is a great choice any time of year. Top Ten Iowa State Parks for Hiking with Kids This article was originally published in Little Village issue 307.Ready for a fall hiking adventure with kids? Want to look at fall foliage? Explore some of Iowa’s natural wonders? Gaze in awe at some of Iowa’s most unique and unexpected features? Get some exercise hoofing it down a wooded trail? Read on for ten favorite Iowa State Parks (all within 2.5 hours driving distance of Iowa City) with trails to challenge and inspire you - sneak in some outdoor adventuring with your family before the weather changes. Devil’s Lake State Park - Adria Carpenter/Little Village Adria Carpenter/Little Village Devil’s Lake State Park - Adria Carpenter/Little Village Devil’s Lake State Park - Adria Carpenter/Little Village Adria Carpenter/Little Village If you make the three-hour drive for a weekend trip, stay at The Birdhouse Inn. Even with a wide lens, I couldn’t photograph the entire surface, and my panorama picture was too wide to fit on Instagram. I was awe-struck at the sight of the lake, which covers 374 acres. From the overlook, the forest was a sea of vibrant red, orange and yellow. I stopped to take pictures every five minutes. The rocks were pinkish red with streaks of pale green. The park features the Devil’s Doorway, a rock formation with a tall gap in the middle. ![]() WORTH THE DRIVE Devil’s Lake State Park in Sauk County, Wisconsin A view of Devil’s Lake - Adria Carpenter/Little Villageĭevil’s Lake has three things I love: large bodies of water, big trees and big rocks (in that order). As we left, I saw the American Gothic Barn, a replica of Grant Woods’ famous painting covering the barn’s exterior. We found a nice vantage point to hammock and read. There are stairs, carved through the rock, which lead up to the Cliff Trail. Water rushed across, so we couldn’t walk along it. It has a rough texture somewhere between sand and silt, but the dogs didn’t seem to mind. We hiked the Cedar River Trail and Cedar Cliff trail, which began around a beach area. Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mount Vernon White moth and dark leaves, September 2021 in Palisades-Kepler State Park. We’d listened to a horror podcast earlier, and the dead forest began to creep me out as we walked back to the car. We stumbled onto a witchy stone house, a flood pole nearby. The winding stairs felt near vertical on the return trip. We climbed down and failed to cross a flooded pathway. The paved trail began high above the gorge, and the cold, windy air burned my face. My partner and I hiked around Canyon Road and the Table Rock Loop. I’d like to come back in late summer or fall, when the trees and flowers are in bloom. It looped around without us realizing, and we somehow ended back at the parking lot. Further along, we peered over the ledge to see the river, surrounded by tall, yellow grass. It was “spring,” my partner said, which meant bare trees and brown grass, but no snow. ![]() We climbed into a hollowed section of rock to hide from the wind and eat our picnic. The mile-long tail has jagged rock and overgrown roots. We hiked the Backbone trail, which loops between Backbone Lake and Maquoketa River. Zak Neumann/Little Village Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa Maquoketa Caves in the winter. Looking north at Lake Macbride from Macbride Nature Recreation Area. Still, I enjoyed the large body of water, and the shady trail leading towards it. But during our visit, it was a slight trickle, like a leaky spigot. She swore that there’s usually more water in the “waterfall,” and there’s photos online to verify her claim. We hiked to what she described as a “waterfall.” In reality, it’s a spillway that divides Lake Macbride from the Iowa River. I first went to Lake MacBride in October on a second date. Lake Macbride State Park, Johnson County A deer wanders through MacBride state park. Here’s a tentative ranking of the five state parks I’ve explored throughout the state so far, plus an honorable Wisconsin mention. Since moving to Iowa City from Athens, Georgia last August, I’ve spent my free time relaxing in Johnson County’s parks and greenspaces, and my weekends hiking state parks and trails. Maquoketa Caves State Park - Adria Carpenter/Little Village
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