It’s no secret that Iowa has some pretty sweet hiking trails. From deep forests to lofty hills to subterranean depths, our state’s trails offer a bit of everything for everyone.  Spend an entire day hiking, biking, running, or just enjoying your time on these eight amazing trails in Iowa you must take as soon as you get a chance.

  1. Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek

Northern Lights 119/Flickr Address: 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa, 51542

Make sure to visit the website for more information.

  1. Wildcat Den State Park, Muscatine

nome joy/Flickr Address: 1884 Wildcat Den Road, Muscatine, Iowa, 52761

Make sure to check the Visit Muscatine website for additional information.

  1. Wabash Trace Nature Trail, Mineola

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Flickr Make sure to visit the Wabash Trace website for more information to help you plan your trip.

  1. Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, near Keosauqua

Jamie/Flickr Address: 22895 Lacey Trail, Keosauqua, Iowa, 52565

Visit the official Iowa DNR website for important information you’ll need to plan a trip.

  1. Backbone State Park, Dundee

Louis/Flickr Address: 1347 129th Street, Dundee, Iowa, 52038

Make sure to visit the DNR website for directions and more information.

  1. Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa

Michael Kappel/Flickr Address: 9688 Caves Road, Maquoketa, Iowa, 52060

Make sure to visit the official website for directions and more information.

  1. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City

USFWS Midwest Region/Flickr Address: 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City, Iowa, 50228

Make sure to visit the FWS.gov website for directions and more information.

  1. High Trestle Trail, Madrid

Carol VanHook/Flickr

Make sure to visit the website for directions and more information.

 What are some of your favorite trails in Iowa? Share them with us!

Northern Lights 119/Flickr

Address: 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa, 51542

Make sure to visit the website for more information.

nome joy/Flickr

Address: 1884 Wildcat Den Road, Muscatine, Iowa, 52761

Make sure to check the Visit Muscatine website for additional information.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Flickr

Make sure to visit the Wabash Trace website for more information to help you plan your trip.

Jamie/Flickr

Address: 22895 Lacey Trail, Keosauqua, Iowa, 52565

Visit the official Iowa DNR website for important information you’ll need to plan a trip.

Louis/Flickr

Address: 1347 129th Street, Dundee, Iowa, 52038

Make sure to visit the DNR website for directions and more information.

Michael Kappel/Flickr

Address: 9688 Caves Road, Maquoketa, Iowa, 52060

Make sure to visit the official website for directions and more information.

USFWS Midwest Region/Flickr

Address: 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City, Iowa, 50228

Make sure to visit the FWS.gov website for directions and more information.

Carol VanHook/Flickr

Make sure to visit the website for directions and more information.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USAAddress: 1884 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USAAddress: Wabash Trace Nature Trail, Mineola, IA, USAAddress: 22895 Lacey Trail, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USAAddress: 1347 129th St, Dundee, IA 52038, USAAddress: 9688 Caves Rd, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USAAddress: 9981 Pacific St, Prairie City, IA 50228, USAAddress: High Trestle Trail, Iowa, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Trails in Iowa You Must Take April 19, 2021 Tori Jane Can you go hiking in Iowa? Of course! There’s so much more to the beautiful state of Iowa than just open fields and old towns. In fact, we’ve got at least 500 hiking, walking, and biking trails in Iowa, and you should definitely make it a point to visit some of the most popular. For example, the Hitchcock Nature Center Loop Trail is the most popular one in the state, and it’s easy to see why - it takes hikers through breathtaking scenery and incredible views that any Iowan will simply adore. There are also trails that lead to caves, trails that lead to lakes and rivers, and so much more. Check out this article for our some of our favorite scenic Iowa hikes. What are the best trails in Iowa for beginners?  Beginners rejoice! There are plenty of easygoing hikes and walks peppered throughout our lovely state. Some of the best trails for beginner hikers include such breathtaking spots as Cedar Cliff Trail, The Chute And Heritage Trail Loop, and Preparation Canyon State Park Loop. There are literally hundreds of easy trails you can pick from, so don’t stop at just those three. There’s way too much to see to leave it at just three!  Where are the best outdoor attractions in Iowa? Iowa is a great state for those who love the outdoors. Other than your basic hunting, fishing, and camping, there are plenty of other outdoor attractions suitable for other tastes, as well. Play a few rounds of frisbee golf, or check out a local skate park. Golfing is a beloved outdoor activity in Iowa, and so are biking and kayaking. Our mild weather tends to make us one of the best states there is for enjoying ourselves in nature. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Trails in Iowa You Must Take

April 19, 2021

Tori Jane

Can you go hiking in Iowa? Of course! There’s so much more to the beautiful state of Iowa than just open fields and old towns. In fact, we’ve got at least 500 hiking, walking, and biking trails in Iowa, and you should definitely make it a point to visit some of the most popular. For example, the Hitchcock Nature Center Loop Trail is the most popular one in the state, and it’s easy to see why - it takes hikers through breathtaking scenery and incredible views that any Iowan will simply adore. There are also trails that lead to caves, trails that lead to lakes and rivers, and so much more. Check out this article for our some of our favorite scenic Iowa hikes. What are the best trails in Iowa for beginners?  Beginners rejoice! There are plenty of easygoing hikes and walks peppered throughout our lovely state. Some of the best trails for beginner hikers include such breathtaking spots as Cedar Cliff Trail, The Chute And Heritage Trail Loop, and Preparation Canyon State Park Loop. There are literally hundreds of easy trails you can pick from, so don’t stop at just those three. There’s way too much to see to leave it at just three!  Where are the best outdoor attractions in Iowa? Iowa is a great state for those who love the outdoors. Other than your basic hunting, fishing, and camping, there are plenty of other outdoor attractions suitable for other tastes, as well. Play a few rounds of frisbee golf, or check out a local skate park. Golfing is a beloved outdoor activity in Iowa, and so are biking and kayaking. Our mild weather tends to make us one of the best states there is for enjoying ourselves in nature. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Of course! There’s so much more to the beautiful state of Iowa than just open fields and old towns. In fact, we’ve got at least 500 hiking, walking, and biking trails in Iowa, and you should definitely make it a point to visit some of the most popular. For example, the Hitchcock Nature Center Loop Trail is the most popular one in the state, and it’s easy to see why - it takes hikers through breathtaking scenery and incredible views that any Iowan will simply adore. There are also trails that lead to caves, trails that lead to lakes and rivers, and so much more. Check out this article for our some of our favorite scenic Iowa hikes.

What are the best trails in Iowa for beginners? 

Beginners rejoice! There are plenty of easygoing hikes and walks peppered throughout our lovely state. Some of the best trails for beginner hikers include such breathtaking spots as Cedar Cliff Trail, The Chute And Heritage Trail Loop, and Preparation Canyon State Park Loop. There are literally hundreds of easy trails you can pick from, so don’t stop at just those three. There’s way too much to see to leave it at just three! 

Where are the best outdoor attractions in Iowa?

Iowa is a great state for those who love the outdoors. Other than your basic hunting, fishing, and camping, there are plenty of other outdoor attractions suitable for other tastes, as well. Play a few rounds of frisbee golf, or check out a local skate park. Golfing is a beloved outdoor activity in Iowa, and so are biking and kayaking. Our mild weather tends to make us one of the best states there is for enjoying ourselves in nature.