I've been to the park area a few times for family gatherings and the shelters are always very nice…read more This year my mom decided that while the whole family was home for Christmas we would go snowshoeing on the trails out at Swiss Valley Nature Center. Since we had a heat wave and the temperature broke 40 degrees it was a beautiful day to be outside but not really the best snow to snowshoe in. But in the dead of winter, you have to take warm days when you get them. The Nature Center has snowshoes to rent for free. They have two different sizes for adults and I'm guessing they weren't super high quality snowshoes but they worked fine for us. We went on a Saturday and the selection was fairly picked over and we had to have ours back in 2 hours. You can call and reserve the shoes ahead of time and I would highly recommend doing that on the weekends. The trails were well marked and there were quite a few options for trails to take. There are also cross-country ski trails that are groomed if you are into that. The woman helping us at the nature center thought you could rent cross-country skies from Kunert Sports. We picked a hilly route and although I consider myself in-shape I was huffing and puffing going up the steepest climb. The sites were beautiful and very worth it though.

A great place to hike near Dubuque. As the name suggests, the nature preserve is located in a…read morevalley just west of town. There's a nature center at the trailhead, and a campground just down the road. The trails span a variety of habitats, and are long and hilly enough to get your heart rate pumping if you so desire. A nice alternative to the Mines of Spain.

This is a really nice park for easy hikes with outstanding views…read more Lookout point is a must with a beautiful view of the Wisconsin river flowing into the Mississippi. The sand caves loop is an easy shaded hike perfect for hot days (with bug repellent). Driving down to the boat landing also give an interesting view from the fishing platform. Overall a really nice park.

We were here as part of a Nature Foundation of Wisconsin outing so we were lucky to have the park's…read moresuperintendent as one of our tour guides. We hiked along the trail that overlooked both the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. It was beautiful. Lots of interesting birds, plant life and history. There are many beautiful vistas and historic/ geographical plaques and markers to help explain the area. The flood marker at the boat launch was impressive. We were only here for the day but we could see how this is a popular place for camping. We understand in summer that the mosquitoes can be fierce - lucky we were here in May. We brought our picnic lunch to the far south end of the park at the Henneger Point picnic area and had it to ourselves. A very nice state park.

A truly beautiful hike filled with caves to explore! There are a total of nine caves, ranging in…read moresize from massive walk-through caverns to smaller, single-person passages. Two of the largest caves let you walk straight from one entrance to another, while one of the smaller ones requires squeezing through two tight openings before you can barely stand inside--definitely an adventure! The trails are not wheelchair accessible. The full hike took us about three hours at a steady pace. I'd recommend bringing a flashlight for exploring, though it's not absolutely necessary. Between the unique caves and the gorgeous trails, this park is a gem. I'll definitely be returning to Maquoketa Caves in the future!

Fun and interesting state park with plenty of caves to see...but wear good shoes for climbing and…read morewalking along steep paths and clothing that will probably get dirty (layers are best as the caves can get cold). Many of the caves have streams running through which are very cool but can also cause slips and falls... I'd also be careful of some of the off-the-beaten-track paths as one led us to some pretty steep cliffs. And again don't underestimate the slipperiness of even the regular paths... The gift shop is just a few tables set up outside of a shelter-type open building (I had to get my usual magnets) in the parking lot, and the visitors center is a separate building off of the main road (Caves Road) and 98. The visitors center has a few interesting displays and we watched a film about the history of the park, Well worth a visit, and especially recommend seeing the Dance Hall Caves....

Beautiful and extensive trails over a surprisingly large area, many along or near pretty waterways…read more....there are several well marked parking lots near the trail heads. We did get lost trying to find the nature center which didn't seem connected to the part of the park we first arrived in...it seems there are two separate entrances? Fortunately we were near the cool castle-like tower, the Julien Dubuque Monument, which offers stunning panoramic views of the Mississippi and of the city of Dubuque. Definitely would like to come back for more hiking here!

Mines of Spain is a go to place for me and has been for years. A wonderful scenic outdoor space…read more Great for hiking.

We went here with son and his family over July 4th week. It is a nice drive from Cedar Rapids. The…read morepark is free to enter. The paths are well maintained and steps are mostly all the same size (eg not uneven sizes). We arrived about 10 and spent an enjoyable day here. We hiked the paths to the caves. The hikes were easy for all ages (5-61). I was amazed at how well everything was kept up for a free park. The caves were mostly small or had small openings, but still fun-especially for 5 and 7 year old. The biggest cave was one called the Dance Hall. It was very big. You could enter from two sides or just walk from one to the other. Hiking boots would be handy. There was only one area where we had to hunch over and it was a few feet. There were stalactites (small) and we saw many bats! There are places you have to scamper across rocks to avoid streams. The floor of cave was damp and at one point a stream ran through (hence why boots would be good), however we all did fine with sneakers. Flashlights are helpful, although there are lights that help along the way. We had a lovely picnic- there were at least 3 areas- and boys ran around and climbed in play area. There were flush toilets, but you may wish to bring some paper towels as there were only hand dryers (now known to spread germs). Also it is a bring in take out park, so make sure you have a plan to take care of your trash. Well with the trip!

Free of charge, natural entertainment. As long as you pick up trash and share the paths it should…read morealways be a wonderful experience

The Wapsi state park is a beautiful place for a scenic drive. There are trails to hike, a…read moreplayground, a country club, golf course and camping located within the park. Most days you can find people fishing and walking. My kids love standing near the upside down bridge where locals and visitors alike drive through and splash the kids standing near the water. It is also a fun place to enjoy a picnic as there are several tables scattered around the park. There are a couple pavilions you can rent and during the summer/fall bathrooms with running water to utilize as well. It is a carry in and carry out park so you will not find trash cans around.

Great place for a day trip, picnic, and hiking. If you don't want to get out of the car you can…read morejust drive thru. I'd suggest explore the caves and packing a picnic. Great Day trip not far off the highway for travelers passing thru.

Wonderful trails in recent early morning hike with my adult daughter. Just watch out for tree…read moreroots which one finds in beautiful woods.

No matter the season, the Woodpecker Nature Trail is one of my most favorite places to hike in the…read moreEastern Iowa Area. You can access this trail both from N. Dubuque Street (look for the Squire Point sign) and near the Coralville Reservoir. There are lots of smaller trails that connect to the larger loop, so you really can choose your own adventure depending on how much time you have and whether you want your hike to be hilly or flat. It weaves through a variety of trees that are very pretty during the spring or fall, and the main trail traces the water line, which makes for some beautiful views. There are several bridges that go over small streams, and plenty of overlooks to appreciate nature (or snap that perfect selfie). Get after it!

Great find and well maintained by the state. Great views! Kayaked on the Mississippi River which…read morewas great but came with some current struggles. The boat launch is right across the road from MP. The hosts were nice. They are only checking in people from 12-4. Find your site and your tag is on the post. There are about 10 walk up sites you can get on FCFS basis. Some electric and some primitive sites. Make sure to select the correct one. Beautiful views are with the hike up the cliffs.

We had a family get together here today and rented the pavilion. For $50, you get a really nice…read morebuilding facility that has a fireplace and several large picnic tables. The public restrooms are in this building however, and you will have people coming and going during your event. It wasn't too busy today so not a problem. There is plenty of open grassy area to play, didn't get enough wind to be able to fly the kites, but we were close! But we definitely had a lot of room to kick the soccer ball, throw the football and run around. The grill worked great, it's 4 feet long and we were able to cook plenty of burgers and hotdog and such for the family. There's also a couple of electrical outlets so we were able to plug-in a couple crockpots for beans and such. There are quite a few mice living in this facility, so just be aware of that, but you are out in the country! There are many hikes and such that leave from this location so you could use this as homebase with other family members being able to go out and take a great hike as well. We had a great day and I have a feeling this is going to become a tradition PS. Bring the bug spray :)