Iowa has hundreds of miles of trails and an abundance of natural beauty to enjoy along the way. Whether you like a leisurely hike enjoying the cool breeze along the waterfront, or you’re a wildlife buff and like catching birds or other animals on film, or you enjoy a steep uphill incline leading to spectacular views, Iowa has something that you’re going to love.
These 16 marvelous trails really will show you Iowa in all its glory, and you should definitely hike all of them before you die.
- Pine Lake State Park, Eldora
Flickr/Jon Haupt Located in Eldora, Pine Lake State Park has a large trail system that’s great for biking and jogging. The scenery is lovely, and there are paved and rocky parts of the trail. If you get hot after your hike, there’s a sandy beach where you can take a dip and cool off.
- Mississippi River Trail (MRT)
Flickr/Daniel McDermott The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) runs through 10 states and about 3000 miles. There are several spots along the river where you can join the trail in Iowa, get some exercise and fresh air and admire the scenic views of the river and its wildlife.
- Heritage Trail
Flickr/Mike Willis The Heritage Trail stretches 26 miles from Dyersville to Dubuque. There are so many beautiful things to look at while you hike, like woodlands, limestone bluffs, wetlands and prairies.
- Wapsipinicon State Park
Flickr/jdurchen The Wapsipinicon State Park is stunning and is one of Iowa’s oldest state parks. The woods, river and limestone bluffs make a feast for the eyes as you meander through the park’s lovely trails.
- Wabash Trace Nature Trail
Flickr/regan76 The Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs through Loess Hills, a unique formation of wind-deposited loess soil. As you walk along the trail, you can enjoy a wide array of natural beauty and wildlife.
- Ledges State Park
Flickr/Carl Wycoff Ledges State Park is located near Boone, Iowa, and is one of the most beautiful state parks in Iowa. You can enjoy the overlooks, wildflowers, water and other beautiful scenery while hiking its 5.4-mile trail.
- Hitchcock Nature Area
Flickr/Northern Lights 119 The Hitchcock Nature Center is a sprawling 1,268 acres and is located in the heart of the Loess Hills. It is one of the largest prairie remnants in Iowa. Hitchcock is open every day of the year for your hiking enjoyment.
- Old Creamery Nature Trail
Facebook/Old Creamery Nature Trail Running about 15 miles from Vinton to Dysart, The Old Creamery Trail is great for a light day hike. Some areas of the trail are rough limestone, but it’s still easy to hike along the trail and enjoy the passing scenery.
- Maquoketa Caves State Park
Flickr/Michael Kappel The Maquoketa Caves State Park is a stunning and one-of-a-kind natural destination. The park has six miles of trails, lush woods, a waterfall and amazing caves to explore.
- Trout Run Trail
Facebook/Decorah Parks and Recreation The The Trout Run Trail is a 12-mile loop around the lovely Decorah, Iowa. This trail is paved for easy walking or biking and offers some of Iowa’s most amazing scenic beauty, including limestone bluffs and the Upper Iowa River.
- Wildcat Den State Park
Flickr/nome joy Wildcat Den State Park is in Muscatine and has an abundance of lovely trails. As you hike, you can enjoy the spectacular cliffs, rock formations and interesting sites along the way, like “Steamboat Rock,” “Devil’s Punch Bowl” and " Fat Man’s Squeeze."
- Pikes Peak State Park
Flickr/Mike Willis McGregor’s Pikes Peak State Park is easily one of the most naturally beautiful destinations in Iowa. As you hike, you can take in the beautiful wooded areas, bluffs, Bridal Veil Waterfall and the overlook that offers stunning views of the Mississippi River.
- Iowa Great Lakes Trail
Flickr/Mary Fairchild A 14-mile trail, the Iowa Great Lakes Trail passes through the gorgeous Iowa Great Lakes region. This area includes Spirit Lake, Okoboji, West Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Milford and Lake Park, and it is some of the most beautiful waterfront hiking you can find in the state.
- High Trestle Trail
Flickr/Jason Mrachina This trail is so cool, because it passes over the High Trestle Trail Bridge, one of the largest trail bridges in the world. Aside from the bridge, the trail boasts 25 miles of hiking or biking through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward.
- Hoover Nature Trail
Flickr/Erin Hoover Nature Trail (HNT) is interesting not only for its natural beauty but because it follows the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad route between Burlington and Cedar Rapids.The trail is 24 miles long and is great for biking, hiking, jogging, walking, cross-country skiing, and more.
- Gray’s Lake Park Trail
Flickr/Michael Leland What a beautiful trail this is. Located in Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines, the loop around the lake offers a lovely and leisurely walk along the waterfront.
What are your favorite trails? For more of Iowa’s amazing trails, These 10 Trails In Iowa Will Lead You To Unforgettable Places.
Flickr/Jon Haupt
Located in Eldora, Pine Lake State Park has a large trail system that’s great for biking and jogging. The scenery is lovely, and there are paved and rocky parts of the trail. If you get hot after your hike, there’s a sandy beach where you can take a dip and cool off.
Flickr/Daniel McDermott
The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) runs through 10 states and about 3000 miles. There are several spots along the river where you can join the trail in Iowa, get some exercise and fresh air and admire the scenic views of the river and its wildlife.
Flickr/Mike Willis
The Heritage Trail stretches 26 miles from Dyersville to Dubuque. There are so many beautiful things to look at while you hike, like woodlands, limestone bluffs, wetlands and prairies.
Flickr/jdurchen
The Wapsipinicon State Park is stunning and is one of Iowa’s oldest state parks. The woods, river and limestone bluffs make a feast for the eyes as you meander through the park’s lovely trails.
Flickr/regan76
The Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs through Loess Hills, a unique formation of wind-deposited loess soil. As you walk along the trail, you can enjoy a wide array of natural beauty and wildlife.
Flickr/Carl Wycoff
Ledges State Park is located near Boone, Iowa, and is one of the most beautiful state parks in Iowa. You can enjoy the overlooks, wildflowers, water and other beautiful scenery while hiking its 5.4-mile trail.
Flickr/Northern Lights 119
The Hitchcock Nature Center is a sprawling 1,268 acres and is located in the heart of the Loess Hills. It is one of the largest prairie remnants in Iowa. Hitchcock is open every day of the year for your hiking enjoyment.
Facebook/Old Creamery Nature Trail
Running about 15 miles from Vinton to Dysart, The Old Creamery Trail is great for a light day hike. Some areas of the trail are rough limestone, but it’s still easy to hike along the trail and enjoy the passing scenery.
Flickr/Michael Kappel
The Maquoketa Caves State Park is a stunning and one-of-a-kind natural destination. The park has six miles of trails, lush woods, a waterfall and amazing caves to explore.
Facebook/Decorah Parks and Recreation
The The Trout Run Trail is a 12-mile loop around the lovely Decorah, Iowa. This trail is paved for easy walking or biking and offers some of Iowa’s most amazing scenic beauty, including limestone bluffs and the Upper Iowa River.
Flickr/nome joy
Wildcat Den State Park is in Muscatine and has an abundance of lovely trails. As you hike, you can enjoy the spectacular cliffs, rock formations and interesting sites along the way, like “Steamboat Rock,” “Devil’s Punch Bowl” and " Fat Man’s Squeeze."
McGregor’s Pikes Peak State Park is easily one of the most naturally beautiful destinations in Iowa. As you hike, you can take in the beautiful wooded areas, bluffs, Bridal Veil Waterfall and the overlook that offers stunning views of the Mississippi River.
Flickr/Mary Fairchild
A 14-mile trail, the Iowa Great Lakes Trail passes through the gorgeous Iowa Great Lakes region. This area includes Spirit Lake, Okoboji, West Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Milford and Lake Park, and it is some of the most beautiful waterfront hiking you can find in the state.
Flickr/Jason Mrachina
This trail is so cool, because it passes over the High Trestle Trail Bridge, one of the largest trail bridges in the world. Aside from the bridge, the trail boasts 25 miles of hiking or biking through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward.
Flickr/Erin
Hoover Nature Trail (HNT) is interesting not only for its natural beauty but because it follows the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad route between Burlington and Cedar Rapids.The trail is 24 miles long and is great for biking, hiking, jogging, walking, cross-country skiing, and more.
Flickr/Michael Leland
What a beautiful trail this is. Located in Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines, the loop around the lake offers a lovely and leisurely walk along the waterfront.
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