Featured Destination: Iowa River Greenbelt
Public Recreation Areas

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View some of the rec areas along the Greenbelt
(The numbers on the map correspond with the numbered descriptions below.)

Wildlife areas and campgrounds are easily accessible throughout Greenbelt, including Bessman-Kemp Wildlife Area (#1), Calkins Nature Area (#2) and Eagle City Park (#3). Maps and information on campgrounds in the Greenbelt are available online or in a brochure produced by the Hardin County Conservation Board. Click here to request a copy of the brochure.

Calkin's Nature Center (#2), which is located near Iowa Falls, provides an educational recreation experience. The nature center area contains 76 acres of woodland, wetland and reconstructed native prairie. A wildlife exhibit at the nature center features more than 80 species of animals from pheasants and deer to raptors, reptiles and amphibians, and the nature center specializes in raptor rehabilitation. There are two miles of trails near the nature center, as well as an arboretum near the prairie.

Sand Springs Wildlife Area (#4), a 221-acre park along the Iowa River, is 1.5 miles north of Steamboat Rock. The area has heavily timbered ridges, a small wetland and many wildflowers. Along a ridge above the river lie 27 sacred Indian mounds. INHF assisted Hardin County in acquiring this land.

Tower Rock, photo by Carl Kurtz

Tower Rock County Park (#5) offers camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing and hunting. Exposed sandstone and limestone cliffs provide a spectacular view when passing on the river. Just west of Tower Rock is Fallen Rock Preserve (#6), where the Iowa River has carved deep bluffs through sandstone bedrock. The area has white pine, yellow birch and white birch, and a large number of raptors travel through the area during fall and spring migrations.

Wildcat Cave Area (#7), a quarter mile north of Eldora along the Iowa River, is home to a variety of trees, an isolated prairie and a seasonal waterfall. INHF acquired two properties to help complete the Wildcat Cave project, which is now managed by Hardin County Conservation Board.

Pine Lake Trail, photo by Ed Siems

Pine Lake State Park (#8) is a heavily wooded 585-acre state park located near Eldora. The park features rolling bluffs with 250-year-old white pine trees, two lakes (a 50-acre lower lake and 69-acre upper lake), more than 10 miles of well-established trails, campgrounds, four restored Civilian Conservation Corps cabins and a concession stand. INHF recently helped the DNR acquire a 68-acre addition to Pine Lake State Park.

The newest recreation feature in the Greenbelt is the addition of a combined 4.5-mile paved multiuse recreation trail that connects two parks and two towns. The Pine Lake and Tower Rock Trails (#9) are actually two different trails that run seamlessly together. The portion of the trail within Pine Lake State Park is called the Pine Lake Trail (3 miles), while the portion from north of the park boundaries to Steamboat Rock is the Tower Rock Trail (1.5 miles).

The recreation areas and activities mentioned above are only a few of the many that can be found along the Iowa River Greenbelt. More information on these areas and those not mentioned are available through the Greenbelt communities, Hardin County Conservation Board and other resources. Check out our links page to locate web sites with more information.

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