Iowa’s Best Hiking Trail Takes You Through Beautiful Caves & Bluffs

Looking for a great hike this summer? Look no further! The website Love Exploring has recognized that Maquoketa Caves Loop at Maquoketa Caves State Park as the best hiking trail in the state for 2024!

Maquoketa Caves State Park is easily one of the coolest places in Iowa. Located in Jackson County, the park is home to some absolutely gorgeous scenery. Love Exploring writes:

"A short but wonderful hike that really immerses visitors into nature, Maquoketa Caves Loop is a manageable 1.6-mile walk that offers plenty of adventure. There's an array of spectacular vantage points along the trail and opportunities to peek into caves and take in the lush greenery surrounding them. Note that although the trail is short, there are quite a few steps to take on, going both up and down."

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources' website says that Maquoketa Caves State Park has been a popular place to visit since the 1860s, making it one of Iowa's oldest attractions. When it became a state park in the early 1920s, it was originally called Morehead Caves State Park. Wikipedia reports that the name changed to Maquoketa Caves State Park in 1928.

Maquoketa Caves has around seven miles of trails and around 13 caves spread across 370 acres of land. The biggest of the caves is “Dancehall Cave,” which is around 800-feet long and has three entrances. The lower entrance leads to a large room where dances used to be held, which is how the cave got its name. Other popular caves include Hernado’s Hideaway, Rainy Day, Shinbone, Barbell, and Wye. The DNR website says that most of the caves can be explored by walking, "while others are better suited for serious spelunkers who are used to crawling in tight spaces."

In addition to caves, bluffs, and prairies, Maquoketa Caves State Park is also home to a campground, shelter houses, and a playground. You can check out more information about the park's highlights HERE.