prophetstown state park to backbone state park iowa

#Prophetstown state park to backbone state park iowa how to

These oaks are relics of the past and give a glimpse the landscape prior to development. The trees have long, low-hanging branches, indicating they grew in open prairie rather than dense forest. Take a selfie and tag #IowaStateParks on social media for prize drawing! Big Oaks at Jolly Boat Picnic Area - When you arrive you'll be greeted by two large oak trees overlooking the lake. Bellevue State Park is split into two separate areas, the Nelson Unit and the Dyas Unit camping is only available at the Dyas Unit. An enclosed nature center and butterfly sanctuary showcase diverse wildlife and plant life inhabiting the area. The park features beautiful overlooks of the Mississippi River. Bring your camera and capture some beautiful pictures! Follow the Friends of Bellevue State Park on Facebook for butterfly garden updates and fun events in the park.Įastern Iowa’s Bellevue State Park is rich in archaeological, historical and natural beauty. Take a right into the first parking lot on top of the hill and walk on the 200-yard paved trail to visit the garden. From the city of Bellevue go south out of town, take the first right after the bridge and follow the winding hill.

#Prophetstown state park to backbone state park iowa how to

How to Find It: Located at the Nelson Unit of Bellevue State Park. The garden is planted with beautiful flowers and bushes that bloom from July-September. Take a selfie and tag #IowaStateParks on social media for prize drawing! Butterfly Garden - Enjoy a one-acre plot designed for butterflies and pollinators during all stages of their life cycles. Whether you’re an adrenaline seeker or just wanting to get outdoors for the day, Backbone State Park has something for everyone. Take a walk through history by checking out the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) museum, explore the rugged 21-mile multi-use trail system or fish in some of Iowa’s best trout streams.

The steep and narrow ridge of bedrock from the Maquoketa River forms the highest point in northeast Iowa - The Devil’s Backbone - giving the park its legendary name.

How to Find It: The trail is located in the north end of the park, just a few hundred yards inside of the East Gate on 120th St.ĭedicated in 1920 as Iowa’s first state park, Backbone State Park is one of the most geographically unique locations in Iowa. 'The truly special place was named for its long, narrow and rugged dolomite limestone ridge towering above the Maquoketa River (and called the Devil's Backbone by locals) and revered for its scenic bluffs, woodlands, varied plant life.‚Äù Look for unique features like the small ovens, large crevices, and towering overlooks high above the Maquoketa River. Take a selfie and tag #IowaStateParks on social media for prize drawing! Backbone Trail - A one-mile looped trail from where the park got its name. Through these surveys we have been able to document special use of unique microenvironments that are characterized by dry upland rises surrounded by a combination of diverse ecozones within a small area providing rich and diverse resource for precontact inhabitants of northwest Indiana.Staff Pick - Hidden Gem. The average site density recorded in the project area for Historic sites was one site per 15.58 ac. The average site density recorded in the project area for precontact sites was one site per 20.03 ac. Cultural periods that are represented in the artifact assemblage include precontact components dating to the Late Archaic, Terminal Middle Woodland/Late Woodland, and possibly the Early Archaic, in addition to 54 Historic components. The survey recovered 81 precontact artifacts and 442 historic artifacts from 12 parcels of land within Benton County. Approximately 841.29 acres (ac) (340.46 hectares ) of agricultural land were surveyed, and 85 new archaeological sites were recorded. This Historic Preservation Fund grant project investigated the archaeological resources of Benton County, Indiana with a focus on the northern half of the county. The Applied Anthropology Laboratories at Ball State University conducted a data enhancement project for archaeological resources in Benton County, Indiana for a FY2015 Historic Preservation Fund Grant (Grant #18-15FFY-03).