Hiking doesn’t have to involve strapping on a water supply and settling in for an exhausting physical challenge. Iowa has many state parks with well-maintained trails that are less than three miles long. Here are a few of the most popular, and we dare say, are among the best hikes in Iowa!
- Wildcat Den State Park
John Rutherford/All Trails At Wildcat Den State Park, there are three trails here that are under three miles each with interesting sandstone formations and excellent terrain. Choose from “Fat Man’s Squeeze,” “Devil’s Punch Bowl,” or “Steamboat Rock,” all of which offer some of the most amazing scenery Iowa has to offer. Wildcat Den State Park, 1884 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA
- Pikes Peak State Park
Angie Warren/AllTrails Pikes Peak State Park is one of Iowa’s most beautiful parks and it offers excellent picnicking opportunities. Platforms along the trails offer stunning views of the upper Midwest. Pikes Peak State Park, 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
- Bridal Veil Trail
Frank Ruiz/AllTrails Bridal Veil Trail is a popular 0.9-mile out-and-back trail where you’ll see a waterfall. This trail is accessible all year long. It’s especially breathtaking in the summer when dense foliage turns everything deep shades of green. Bridal Veil Trail iowa
- Point Ann Trail
Frank Ruiz/AllTrails Point Ann Trail is the longest trail in the park at nearly three miles. It has a 400-foot drop at the very beginning. A wide path leads to the old rock quarry, burial mounds, and the Point Ann overlook. Point Ann, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
- Chinquapin Ridge Trail
Alan Gray/AllTrails The Chinquapin Ridge Trail is 2.5 miles and zig-zags up from the McGregor parking area and along a ridge line. You’ll see the Mississippi River through the trees along the way to the east. This trail also has burial mounds along the way.
- Wapsipinicon State Park
Kim Brack/AllTrails The Wapsipinicon State Park Loop Trail is a 1.4-mile moderately-trafficked loop trail located near Anamosa, Iowa. It features a river and is good for all skill levels. It is also definitely one of the most scenic hikes in Iowa. Wapsipinicon State Park, 21301 Co Rd E34, Anamosa, IA 52205, USA
- Hitchcock Nature Area
Rob Wetzeler/AllTrails Some of the last remnants of prairie are here at the popular Hitchcock Nature Area. There’s a large network of trails and two of them are less than three miles. Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USA
- Chute and Heritage Trail Loop
Teri Truscott/All Trails The Chute and Heritage Trail Loop is a 2.3-mile loop trail. You’ll see beautiful wildflowers and maybe even catch a glimpse of deer or wild turkey. Chute and Heritage Trail Loop iowa
- Dozer Cut and Fox Run Ridge Trail
Stephen Woodin/AllTrails Dozer Cut and Fox Run Ridge Trail near Honey Creek, Iowa is a 1.8-mile trail that is well-traveled by visitors. It offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. Dozer Cut & Fox Run Ridge, Iowa 51542, USA
- Heritage Trail
Mark Holt/AllTrails Stretching an estimated 26 miles from Dyersville to Dubuque, the trail is brimming with beautiful limestone bluffs, woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Heritage Trail, Dubuque, IA, USA
John Rutherford/All Trails
At Wildcat Den State Park, there are three trails here that are under three miles each with interesting sandstone formations and excellent terrain. Choose from “Fat Man’s Squeeze,” “Devil’s Punch Bowl,” or “Steamboat Rock,” all of which offer some of the most amazing scenery Iowa has to offer.
Wildcat Den State Park, 1884 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA
Angie Warren/AllTrails
Pikes Peak State Park is one of Iowa’s most beautiful parks and it offers excellent picnicking opportunities. Platforms along the trails offer stunning views of the upper Midwest.
Pikes Peak State Park, 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
Frank Ruiz/AllTrails
Bridal Veil Trail is a popular 0.9-mile out-and-back trail where you’ll see a waterfall. This trail is accessible all year long. It’s especially breathtaking in the summer when dense foliage turns everything deep shades of green.
Bridal Veil Trail iowa
Point Ann Trail is the longest trail in the park at nearly three miles. It has a 400-foot drop at the very beginning. A wide path leads to the old rock quarry, burial mounds, and the Point Ann overlook.
Point Ann, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
Alan Gray/AllTrails
The Chinquapin Ridge Trail is 2.5 miles and zig-zags up from the McGregor parking area and along a ridge line. You’ll see the Mississippi River through the trees along the way to the east. This trail also has burial mounds along the way.
Kim Brack/AllTrails
The Wapsipinicon State Park Loop Trail is a 1.4-mile moderately-trafficked loop trail located near Anamosa, Iowa. It features a river and is good for all skill levels. It is also definitely one of the most scenic hikes in Iowa.
Wapsipinicon State Park, 21301 Co Rd E34, Anamosa, IA 52205, USA
Rob Wetzeler/AllTrails
Some of the last remnants of prairie are here at the popular Hitchcock Nature Area. There’s a large network of trails and two of them are less than three miles.
Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USA
Teri Truscott/All Trails
The Chute and Heritage Trail Loop is a 2.3-mile loop trail. You’ll see beautiful wildflowers and maybe even catch a glimpse of deer or wild turkey.
Chute and Heritage Trail Loop iowa
Stephen Woodin/AllTrails
Dozer Cut and Fox Run Ridge Trail near Honey Creek, Iowa is a 1.8-mile trail that is well-traveled by visitors. It offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels.
Dozer Cut & Fox Run Ridge, Iowa 51542, USA
Mark Holt/AllTrails
Stretching an estimated 26 miles from Dyersville to Dubuque, the trail is brimming with beautiful limestone bluffs, woodlands, wetlands, and prairies.
Heritage Trail, Dubuque, IA, USA
Have you been to any of these amazing Iowa state parks? Where are your favorite Iowa hikes that are less than three miles long? Tell us about each one in the comments.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Iowa June 28, 2022 Lysa Allman-Baldwin Are there any kid-friendly hikes around Iowa? Yes! There are numerous kid-friendly hikes around Iowa. And the best part is that some of them are less than a mile long! One of them is the Hidden Prairie Nature Trail. Located at the Kuehn Conservation Area in the town of Earlham, this hike is a favorite with kids because of the abundance of birds and wildlife moving about the area. I’m looking for hiking trails near me in the Des Moines area. There is a really good one in Gray’s Lake Park. The awesome thing about the trail is that when you’re on it, you completely forget that you are so close to the hustle and bustle of the big city. That’s just how quiet and peaceful it is here. About 25 minutes from town, you can go to Polk City and embark upon the trails at the Big Creek State Park. There is also a beautiful beach for swimming during those warm weather months. Can you suggest a great scenic hike? There are so many wonderful scenic hikes in Iowa that it would be hard to single out just one. But if I had to, I would suggest the hike inside of Effigy Mounds in Harpers Ferry. You’ll find over 14 miles of trails, each one seeming more scenic than the last. Anytime is a great time of year to visit, but the colors are particularly beautiful in the fall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture all of the spectacular vistas! What can you tell me about Preparation Canyon State Park? Preparation Canyon State Park is amazing! Encompassing 344 picturesque acres, the park is located in western Iowa right in the heart of the beautiful Loess Hills. A very popular place for a day trip or weekend outing, you’ll find recreational activities including camping, hiking, and picnicking, just to name a few. Getting to the park is also very easy from Des Moines (2-1/2 hours northwest) and Cedar Rapids (4 hours west).
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Iowa
June 28, 2022
Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Are there any kid-friendly hikes around Iowa? Yes! There are numerous kid-friendly hikes around Iowa. And the best part is that some of them are less than a mile long! One of them is the Hidden Prairie Nature Trail. Located at the Kuehn Conservation Area in the town of Earlham, this hike is a favorite with kids because of the abundance of birds and wildlife moving about the area. I’m looking for hiking trails near me in the Des Moines area. There is a really good one in Gray’s Lake Park. The awesome thing about the trail is that when you’re on it, you completely forget that you are so close to the hustle and bustle of the big city. That’s just how quiet and peaceful it is here. About 25 minutes from town, you can go to Polk City and embark upon the trails at the Big Creek State Park. There is also a beautiful beach for swimming during those warm weather months. Can you suggest a great scenic hike? There are so many wonderful scenic hikes in Iowa that it would be hard to single out just one. But if I had to, I would suggest the hike inside of Effigy Mounds in Harpers Ferry. You’ll find over 14 miles of trails, each one seeming more scenic than the last. Anytime is a great time of year to visit, but the colors are particularly beautiful in the fall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture all of the spectacular vistas! What can you tell me about Preparation Canyon State Park? Preparation Canyon State Park is amazing! Encompassing 344 picturesque acres, the park is located in western Iowa right in the heart of the beautiful Loess Hills. A very popular place for a day trip or weekend outing, you’ll find recreational activities including camping, hiking, and picnicking, just to name a few. Getting to the park is also very easy from Des Moines (2-1/2 hours northwest) and Cedar Rapids (4 hours west).
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Yes! There are numerous kid-friendly hikes around Iowa. And the best part is that some of them are less than a mile long! One of them is the Hidden Prairie Nature Trail. Located at the Kuehn Conservation Area in the town of Earlham, this hike is a favorite with kids because of the abundance of birds and wildlife moving about the area.
I’m looking for hiking trails near me in the Des Moines area.
There is a really good one in Gray’s Lake Park. The awesome thing about the trail is that when you’re on it, you completely forget that you are so close to the hustle and bustle of the big city. That’s just how quiet and peaceful it is here. About 25 minutes from town, you can go to Polk City and embark upon the trails at the Big Creek State Park. There is also a beautiful beach for swimming during those warm weather months.
Can you suggest a great scenic hike?
There are so many wonderful scenic hikes in Iowa that it would be hard to single out just one. But if I had to, I would suggest the hike inside of Effigy Mounds in Harpers Ferry. You’ll find over 14 miles of trails, each one seeming more scenic than the last. Anytime is a great time of year to visit, but the colors are particularly beautiful in the fall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture all of the spectacular vistas!
What can you tell me about Preparation Canyon State Park?
Preparation Canyon State Park is amazing! Encompassing 344 picturesque acres, the park is located in western Iowa right in the heart of the beautiful Loess Hills. A very popular place for a day trip or weekend outing, you’ll find recreational activities including camping, hiking, and picnicking, just to name a few. Getting to the park is also very easy from Des Moines (2-1/2 hours northwest) and Cedar Rapids (4 hours west).
