On my cross-country drive, this was a good area to stop in and I stumbled across Stone State Park…read moreand its adorable camping cabins. The cabins have to be booked for 2 nights so I had to book it the day-of. I barely made it in time to check in but I did - many thanks to the ranger for being patient! I recommend bringing cash if you try to same-day stay. The place was really adorable and cozy! There's an AC unit, a dehumidifier, a microwave, and a decent sized minifridge, along with a small table, bunk beds, and a futon. I was happy to be on a bed and just used my sleeping bag for sheets. As for the park, it has beautiful hills and sweeping views. I didn't take a longer hike but would absolutely not hesitate to stop by, for camping or hiking.

Beautiful state park. Lots of places to hike but also a lovely drive. Great views where you can see…read moreNebraska and South Dakota. There's a beautiful old building you can rent for events. Plenty of picnic tables for a day visit. There are campsites in the park too. Its a gem in northwest Iowa.

A month after my first to Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, I'm still in awe of the peacefulness and…read morenatural beauty. Visiting the second week of August was perfect-the yellow daisies were in full bloom. What made the experience even more special was that we had the place to ourselves around 4:00 p.m., making it feel incredibly serene. We had so much fun taking photos of the vibrant flowers, including close-ups of a bee and a butterfly, adding to the magic of the moment. I got so caught up in the beauty of the prairie that I did not read the interpretive signage to learn more about the history. Next time!

What a nice little stop on our road trip! There's a great amount of history here, make sure to read…read morethe informational plaques. If you happen to go on a nice sunny day the views are spectacular! You pass a stream on your way up to the mound. Once you get to the mound you can see views far and wide, no wonder it was a great spot chosen by the expedition party. We brought our dogs with us so they could enjoy the walk as well, there were others with their dogs too so I would say this place is dog friendly. No bathrooms per se, only a port-a-potty that badly needed cleaning. There was plenty of parking. We went later in the day but this place still seemed a little busy.

What a great not-so-little trail located in the heart of Westfield, Iowa! I had the pleasure of…read moretaking a stroll here the day after Thanksgiving as part of the #optoutside effort with my partner, whose folks live in the area. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, I can't recommend this trail enough. Five Ridge Prairie features beautiful landscapes, and each ridge overlooks the rolling hills of the western side of the state. Even in fall, when things are much less green, and certainly not blooming, we really enjoyed this hike. It's a workout, too! Those ridges are no joke.

This park holds a ton of memories for me. My family would venture here often when I was a child. I…read moreremember having larger family gatherings here from time to time. It's very well maintained and has a few 'indoor' restroom options. There's a very long main loop around the lake that is about 3mi and VERY hilly. I know there's hiking path and such as well. A few small paths exist. It's a lot of fun on bikes and quite kid friendly. Two large playground areas and a couple fishing docks. Also plenty of parking. The dog park is newer and very nice. Can be very busy, tho. It's so clean. I'm proud of SIoux City and surrounding citizens for keeping this place so nice. Totally free; no entrance fee. Can kayak on the lake, but it's too small for boats. Maybe a paddle boat. I'm sure the shelters can be reserved but I don't have information on that. A couple water fountains are available. Don't forget sun screen!!

This nearly 3 mile walk around the lake is really beautiful. Moderate hills and dog friendly with…read moreadjacent dog park. Highly recommended.

The new maintenance guy is trying hard to bring this place back from the brink of being a complete…read moredump, but he's got a long road ahead of him. The Iowa DNR has caused/allowed Blue Lake to drop 8' - leaving it impossible to boat in the lake. And they spent YEARS literally neglecting this park. They just don't care - and it shows. What once was a beautiful and heavily used park has become a ghost town - and for good reason. Years ago it was a really nice park. Now it's not - and this is completely on the Iowa DNR.

This is a wonderful RV and tent campground. The restrooms have free showers and are clean. There…read moreis lots of exploring areas and and amazing playground for the kids. The on-site personal are friendly and helpful. Watch out for ticks in the higher grasses and bushes on the natural trails. Fishing is excellent. Pull thru sites and back ins available with full hook ups

The park was great. It was very clean, and the people there were very friendly…read more I loved that there was no trash on the ground, and I loved all of the park equipment

Best known as one of the largest yet peaceful parks in Le Mars, West Floyd Park is home to…read moreplayground equipment, a picnic shelter with restrooms, a large baseball complex, a BMX race track and an extensive disc golf course. The West Floyd River, which flows near the park's Western Border, was named after Sergeant Floyd of the American Corps of Discovery Expedition. In addition to all of the amenities West Floyd Park has to offer, you can also take advantage of a well maintained paved trail. On a pleasant Summer day, you will find bikers and walkers trekking from the Le Mars Golf course, through West Floyd Park and out to the Wells' Enterprises Corporate Office and back again.

I try to go to this park every day. I found a little squirrel that LOVES French fries and cookies…read more He comes right up to my car to get his treats. It makes me smile and he grabs his goodies and goes to the tree stump and eats them.

A great view of the town of Vermillion, SD and the Loess hills on Nebraska side. Great views of the…read moreriver. If you want to access the higher views, they really aren't wheelchair accessible. There are also two trails at the upper most observation area. There are restrooms.

We enjoyed an amazing view from this spot after crossing the bridge in to Nebraska! Even better,…read morethere was a spectacular tiger swallowtail butterfly flitting about who posed for a microsecond! My iPhone took the perfect picture to commemorate our visit to Nebraska! Life is good!