I'm focusing on the campground here- outer perimeter sites are nice - shady and private. Inner…read moreperimeter sites are laid out so there is very little separation - no privacy and no noise abatement. Our neighbors weren't loud in any way but because of the layout their conversations were entirely audible. The camp host was never seen so sites had as many as 5 cars parked on them etc. The park has beautiful walking and bike paths throughout and the bike paths are heavily used. Unfortunately many of the bikers leave the path and cut through the campground road going quite fast- faster than cars would drive through - as campgrounds tend to have small kids playing I would be concerned if those were my kids. The park itself had much to offer - the campground and rest rooms are well maintained. Sites have some gravel and are mostly level. I think during the week would be a better experience.

This is a beautiful park and campground in Waterloo, Iowa. Really nice bike trails a decent beach…read moreon the lake and a nice campground. We didn't fish but saw a lot of anglers. The campground is on the bank of the Cedar river as are the boat launch ramps. The river is really pretty. The primitive campsites are right next to the river and are really nice sites.

This is a great trail/hiking spot. It is located on the edge of an old residential area of Cedar…read moreFalls. The trails are well-maintained. Even in March (when there is nothing green in Iowa), it was a great place to hike and birdwatch. Most all of the maple trees are still tapped (which I had never seen). This is a great spot in a town that has numerous walking trails.

Wonderful place to visit however it does link up with other trails and other sites the best piece…read moreof advice I can give is to drop a pin on your car when you park because it might not be the easiest thing to find

Amazing cabin! We love the outdoors and this is the perfect getaway. We appreciate the hospitality…read moreand attentions.

Had a wonderful weekend here relaxing and tubing down the crane creek. Tom and Sue are wonderful…read morehost and made us feel very welcomed. If your looking for a primitive getaway you've found it!

Woke up early to go to this place before the temperatures exceeded my comfort zone…read more Very nice place to hike and look for fossils. It really is amazing how many shells are litterly covering the whole area. It's like walking on an ocean floor without the water. Unfortunately, we could only stay an hour since the temperature started to rise fast. I really don't do well in the heat and humidity. Maybe next time when it's a little cooler.

This is the perfect field trip for those who love the outdoors. It's a reviving prairie with…read morefossils the public are allowed to take with them. There's also fields and trails that are perfect for hiking!!!!

What a great small ski hill. Excellent instructors and learning environment. Not crowded. Priced…read moreright.

What an awesome place! We did tubing 4-6pm; not super busy and kids had a blast. Everyone working…read morethere were interacted with were friendly and welcoming! Facilities were well maintained and clean. Can't say enough good things about this place!

When I'm in Mason City and want to get outside for a bit, my first thought is to go out to Lime…read moreCreek. They've got a nice assortment of trail loops of differing lengths that intersect so you can get whatever distance hike you want, and see the different parts of the land. There is also a nice long trail that runs along the river that has some scenic spots as well. The nature center building isn't super big, but it's nice to take a look at the fossils, taxidermy, and information about the animals. In the winter especially, the trails aren't busy and you can really just walk about and take be at peace in the environment. It would be nice if there was a bit more signage at some of the intersections of the trails, however, as there are some spots where it's not clear where you'll end up.

The visitors center is a great place to learn about the flora and fauna of Iowa. It's filled with…read moreall kinds of unique stuffed animal wildlife. Some taxidermy guy had fun. Kinda creepy, but still interesting. They also have a few aquariums with live fish. Oh..and a live turtle. Very clean and well organized. If you check out the upstairs, there's a lot of hands on exploration things to do with the kids. Remember...don't forget to go to use the restrooms before you go hiking. Yes...there are 11 hiking trails to choose from. Some are short, some are long. I chose the easy hike since it looked like a storm was coming. There are also wheel chair accessible trails. Nice place to check out if you enjoy nature.

Great Iowa park to get out and walk and enjoy the scenic views from higher up along the…read moreMississippi. The park has some nice easy hiking paths to discover. It has 11 miles of trails to check out. We did bridal veil falls trail and then Point Ann trail from the McGregor parking area. Other nearby attractions like effigy mounds national monument and local small town businesses. If you are from Iowa, don't forget to cross the river and grab some spotted cow beer from the town of prairie du chien in Wisconsin! They have a campground as well and river activities. Yellow river state park isn't far and is one of our favorites. Highly recommend for a vacation spot either for a day trip or multiple days to check out the surrounding attractions.

Beautiful campground at Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor,IA. We were here in 2019, and now (2025) an…read moreamazing difference. The campground has been updated and redone. Spacious sites, concrete roads, easier access to all sites. Very well maintained. Mid-April and water was not accessible yet. We brought our own so no problem if you plan accordingly. Very nice trails throughout the other part of the park. Keep up the good work, Iowa.

Photo taken 4/24/26…read more This is such a lovely place! We have been here several times, and we love it each time we visit. We've been here twice on field trips with my child's class, and several other times outside of that. There is an information center and plenty of outdoor activities. It's very well maintained, and the staff here are all wonderful. It's definitely a fun place for fishing or just simply walking around and enjoying nature. For those that enjoy birdwatching, this is also a great location to do so. The information center has quite a few activities for anyone interested in learning about any type of nature. You can ask for kits to inspect tadpoles or water creatures as well as binoculars for birdwatching. There's also a natural play structure for kids to explore. It's so peaceful and serene; this also makes it perfect for a picnic! There is a path that goes around the water, and there are also a few gazebos and benches for you to stop at to take a break or just enjoy the day.

This is a really neat park north east of Ames. It's the home of the Story County Conservation…read moreCenter and a lot of classes and programming. There are some deceptively long hiking trails here that will let you traverse the various biomes of the state of Iowa. There are wooded, riparian and native prarire areas along trails immediately adjacent to the park and it also serves as a great launching point and connector for the Skunk River Greenbelt system of trails that continue to the north. There are primitive campsites and mutli-use hiking and biking trails. There is actually a lot to do outside in Story County, it's just not obvious & McFarland Park is a great place to get acquainted.

Wonderful trails in recent early morning hike with my adult daughter. Just watch out for tree…read moreroots which one finds in beautiful woods.

No matter the season, the Woodpecker Nature Trail is one of my most favorite places to hike in the…read moreEastern Iowa Area. You can access this trail both from N. Dubuque Street (look for the Squire Point sign) and near the Coralville Reservoir. There are lots of smaller trails that connect to the larger loop, so you really can choose your own adventure depending on how much time you have and whether you want your hike to be hilly or flat. It weaves through a variety of trees that are very pretty during the spring or fall, and the main trail traces the water line, which makes for some beautiful views. There are several bridges that go over small streams, and plenty of overlooks to appreciate nature (or snap that perfect selfie). Get after it!