Ultimate Iowa Wonders List

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Anyone that hasn't sat in the country and watched lightning in Iowa is really missing out.

 

[CapnCy]

-American Gothic house in Eldon, IA
-Sprint Car races in Knoxville
-I saw someone put the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake..Id add the crash site north of town
-Field of Dreams

 

[Bamacyclone]

T0

Anyone that hasn't sat in the country and watched lightning in Iowa is really missing out.

Very true.

 

[Prone2Clone]

Ames water.

 

[DeereClone]

The Neil Smith Prairie by Prairie City.

 

[Colorado]

Maquoketa Caves

 

[Entropy]

Effigy Mounds and field of dreams maybe. Never been to the first, recommended?

I think it's a neat area with some cool history. Nice hiking by the Mississippi. I generally try to stop there if I'm driving by or camping in the area.

 

[roundball]

Lake Okoboji is awesome...or it would be if it weren't overrun with douchey bro types, people who think they're rich, and drunken yahoos creating never-ending boat wake with their oversized cruisers.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

As a kid I always enjoyed passing through Audubon and seeing Albert the Bull.

 

[MeanDean]

Pikes Peak....near McGregor, Iowa; also named for (or by) Zebulon Pike. He came through Iowa before he went to Colorado. It's in a state park near the Effigy Mounds which I found very interesting.

First think I thought of and surprised it took until page 2 to be mentioned. I can't imagine a more spectacular view anywhere in the state.

 

[roundball]

No votes for Saylorville Lake and their toxic blue-green algae?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...e-plagues-beaches-iowas-state-parks/31758829/

 

[Al_4_State]

A lot of the top ones have been mentioned. My favorites are the Upper Iowa River and Okoboji.

Coldwater Cave (near Bluffton - between Cresco and Decorah) is a pretty spectacular area. You can't just tour the cave, but you can hike up to the point where it exits the ground and enters Coldwater Creek.

Yellow River Forest (near Harper's Ferry) is also pretty spectacular

 

[JM4CY]

Effigy Mounds and field of dreams maybe. Never been to the first, recommended?

No

 

[JM4CY]

I80 truck stop

 

[DeereClone]

A lot of the top ones have been mentioned. My favorites are the Upper Iowa River and Okoboji.

Coldwater Cave (near Bluffton - between Cresco and Decorah) is a pretty spectacular area. You can't just tour the cave, but you can hike up to the point where it exits the ground and enters Coldwater Creek.

Yellow River Forest (near Harper's Ferry) is also pretty spectacular

Where is the cave hike located? Is there a park it starts from or something? I would love to check that out next time I am up there.

The Decorah ice cave and Dunning's Spring are pretty cool too.

 

[Triggermv]

Iowa Corn 300 (Indy race) at Iowa Raceway. Shoot, I'm not even a race fan the slightest, but this is a big time race held in our state. I've been once and it is a fun time, especially if you tailgate beforehand.

 

[Al_4_State]

Where is the cave hike located? Is there a park it starts from or something? I would love to check that out next time I am up there.

The Decorah ice cave and Dunning's Spring are pretty cool too.

It's off of Coldwater Creek Road in rural Cresco (based on address) but the easiest way to get there is to go north out of Bluffton the pavement, and take a left on Coldwater Creek Road.

It's in a state owned wildlife management area. There are two parking lots along Coldwater Creek Road. There's a big one right as you cross the creek on the north side of the road. You can just follow the trail back into the woods. Wear some waders or shoes you don't care about, because you cross the creek at least 4 times.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/idnr/Fishing/WheretoFish/TroutStreams/StreamDetails.aspx?lakeCode=TCO96

 

[DeereClone]

It's off of Coldwater Creek Road in rural Cresco (based on address) but the easiest way to get there is to go north out of Bluffton the pavement, and take a left on Coldwater Creek Road.

It's in a state owned wildlife management area. There are two parking lots along Coldwater Creek Road. There's a big one right as you cross the creek on the north side of the road. You can just follow the trail back into the woods. Wear some waders or shoes you don't care about, because you cross the creek at least 4 times.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/idnr/Fishing/WheretoFish/TroutStreams/StreamDetails.aspx?lakeCode=TCO96

Sounds great.

Thanks - I appreciate it!

 

[Entropy]

It's off of Coldwater Creek Road in rural Cresco (based on address) but the easiest way to get there is to go north out of Bluffton the pavement, and take a left on Coldwater Creek Road.

It's in a state owned wildlife management area. There are two parking lots along Coldwater Creek Road. There's a big one right as you cross the creek on the north side of the road. You can just follow the trail back into the woods. Wear some waders or shoes you don't care about, because you cross the creek at least 4 times.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/idnr/Fishing/WheretoFish/TroutStreams/StreamDetails.aspx?lakeCode=TCO96

I was just there this weekend and drove down that road twice (floating the Upper Iowa) and had no idea about the cave. Good excuse to go back.