39 trails · 285 trail miles · Best season: April – October
Iowa offers gentle but rewarding hiking through the unique Loess Hills (found only here and in China), ancient effigy mounds along the Mississippi, and restored tallgrass prairies.
Best Season
April – October
Terrain
Loess hills, river bluffs, tallgrass prairie
Top Trail: Iowa State Park Beaver Dam Trail
Iowa has 39 hiking trails covering 285 trail miles across 3 national parks and 47 state parks.
The best hiking season in Iowa is April – October. The terrain includes loess hills, river bluffs, tallgrass prairie.
The top hiking destinations in Iowa include Effigy Mounds National Monument, Yellow River State Forest, Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Notable long-distance and iconic trails in Iowa include Loess Hills Trail, Effigy Mounds Fire Point Trail.
The highest-rated trail in Iowa is Iowa State Park Beaver Dam Trail. The average trail difficulty across the state is Moderate.