Upper Iowa River

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What's so special about the Upper Iowa River?
The Upper Iowa River is a relatively short river and small watershed. It starts in southern Minnesota and then winds through three northeast Iowa counties (Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee) before entering the Mississippi River. So what makes it so special?

The Natural Features
photo by Tom Scherer
Much of the Upper Iowa River is incised into steep limestone hills. Limestone features such as sinkholes, caves, and cold air slopes form the underlying geology of the surrounding agricultural and forested landscape.

The river bank terrain varies greatly, from flat fertile field benches, to bottom and upland forests, to vertical limestone bluffs of up to 200 feet by Bluffton. The variety of features throughout the riverway includes small goat prairies, Native American effigy mounds, and hosts of plant and wildlife species.

One of the differences between this river and others anywhere in the Midwest are the cold water streams that feed into it. These streams support trout and other aquatic species. For information on the Upper Iowa River Watershed Project, sponsored by Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, visit www.northeastiowarcd.org.

Recreational features
The Upper Iowa River is Iowa's only river eligible for designation as a national Wild and Scenic River. It is a mecca for canoeists. This river falls at an average rate of over 16 feet per mile, a significantly faster flow than many other Iowa rivers. One section in particular, between the towns of Kendallville and Bluffton, draws hundreds of thousands of canoeists (plus folks floating on inner tubes) each year.

At the stretch just upstream from Bluffton, everyone gets out cameras. As they pass through the majestic limestone palisades and chimney rock formations, framed by wooded hillsides, they try to capture the moment. INHF and the private landowners have now protected this stretch of chimney-like palisades (pictured above). The story of that protection is included within the context of INHF's Upper Iowa River projects.

How can I experience the Upper Iowa River?
photo by Jim Riggs
The Upper Iowa River passes through a lovely part of Iowa with many services for visitors-from dining, lodging and shopping to canoe and inner tube rentals, trails and parks. To help you plan your trip, INHF has created a lengthy links page of attractions and services near the Upper Iowa River. Though INHF is not necessarily endorsing a given company by including their link on this page, we endorse a trip to this beautiful place!

We also co-sponsored maps of the Upper Iowa River. Designed for canoeists, the maps show river features while providing lots of information about area attractions. This map is free if you pick it up in our office. Or send in $1.50 for postage and handling to INHF at 505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 to have one mailed to you.

What's INHF doing to protect this area?
photo by Mary Ellen Leicht

This photo of a parent and baby bald eagle on its nest was taken on an INHF project site along the Upper Iowa River. To learn more about eagles and follow their lives on this nest through great photos and text, visit our Eagle Nest Diaries.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has protected hundreds of acres along and near the Upper Iowa River. Some, like Chimney Rocks and the Upper Iowa River Palisades, are among the area's most scenic treasures. Others, though less spectacular to look at, are equally important for their value in protecting the area's wildlife, water quality and other natural values. For details, visit our list and description of INHF projects along the Upper Iowa.

How can I help?
Unlike some popular rivers in other states, the land along the Upper Iowa River is not a designated preserve. It won't be protected by government decree. Voluntary action is key to protecting the upper Iowa River, and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is key to getting that voluntary action.

INHF's recent work along the Upper Iowa River has gotten many other landowners interested in permanent protection. But we can't get it all done without funding for staff time, appraisals, stewardship expenses, land payments, etc. So we're conducting a campaign and we'd love to have you join us. Here's how you can help.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.