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Spotlights
Backbone State Park
Pikes Peak State Park
Ledges State Park
Backbone State Park, Iowa's first state park is one of the most geographically unique parks in the park system. Backbone is named for the steep and narrow ridge of bedrock cut by a loop of the Maquoketa River and forming the highest point in northeast Iowa - the Devil's Backbone. If you enjoy bicycling, boating, camping, climbing, fishing, hiking or picnicking, this is the place for you.
Pikes Peak State Park is one of the most photographed places in Iowa. Pikes Peak is rich in natural, cultural and historical resources and famed for its majestic view of the Mississippi River.
Stand atop the 500-foot bluff (1,130-foot elevation) for a breathtaking view and see the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. You can understand why people have long referred to this area as the "Little Switzerland of Iowa." The park is named after Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, sent by the government in 1805 to select a site for a military fort. Pike chose this site but the government built the fort across the river.
With its distinctive geological features, breathtaking views and vibrant history, Ledges State Park is a nature lover's paradise. One of the very first state parks in Iowa, Ledges is a must-see Iowa attraction for decades. In addition to natural beauty, several structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) are a must see - from an arch stone bridge to a shelter in Oak Woods to stone trail steps and a shelter in Lower Ledges.
