Backbone State Park

Backbone State Park, Iowa’s oldest state park (established 1920), is one of the crown jewels of the Iowa state park system — a 2,010-acre park in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa, centered on a dramatic narrow limestone ridge called ‘the backbone,’ a sharp, eroded spine of Silurian dolomite rising above the Maquoketa River valley. The park is loved for its rugged terrain, clear trout-stocked streams, beautiful lake and miles of forest trails.

The park’s trails explore the backbone ridge (with a famous ‘devil’s backbone’ narrow traverse), wooded ravines, limestone bluffs, trout streams and the shores of Backbone Lake — Iowa’s oldest artificial lake, built by the CCC in the 1930s. Cabin camping, backpacking, swimming, fishing, rock climbing and canoeing round out the experience. A rugged, beautiful Driftless Area gem, Backbone State Park is a treasured natural icon of Iowa.

Backbone State Park offers hiking on an extensive trail system (including the Devil’s Backbone traverse, a narrow limestone ridge walk, and loop trails through the wooded ravines and bluffs), trout fishing in the Maquoketa River (stocked with rainbow trout), swimming and non-motorized boating on Backbone Lake, backpacking on the multi-use trail, rock climbing and rappelling on the limestone bluffs (with a permit), cabin camping, RV and tent camping, and canoeing. The Devil’s Backbone ridge walk, the trout fishing and the forested ravine trails are the signature draws. The park’s rugged Driftless Area terrain is exceptional for Iowa.

Late spring through fall is the main season, with spring bringing trout fishing (the Maquoketa is stocked in spring), wildflowers and the most dramatic stream flows, summer offering swimming and full camping, and fall bringing spectacular color to the wooded ridges and ravines. Winter is quiet but the park remains open (some facilities close). Spring for trout fishing and wildflowers, fall for the ridge-and-ravine color, and summer for swimming and camping are the highlights — hike the Devil’s Backbone at sunrise for the ridge in early light and the best birding.

Backbone State Park occupies the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa, part of the homeland of the Meskwaki and Ho-Chunk peoples. Established in 1920 as Iowa’s first state park, it was developed extensively by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, who built the iconic stone lodge, cabins, bridges, the lake dam and many facilities still in use today. The park’s rugged terrain and clear trout streams have made it a beloved Iowa destination for over a century. Backbone preserves the CCC heritage and the Driftless Area landscape, a treasured icon of Iowa.

Backbone State Park sits in the Iowa Driftless Area, where the ancient Silurian-age dolomite (a magnesium-rich limestone) was exposed at the surface after the glaciers bypassed the region. The ‘backbone’ is a narrow, sharp ridge of resistant Silurian dolomite eroded by the Maquoketa River and its tributaries, with the softer rock stripped away to leave the hard dolomite ridge standing. The jointed, fractured dolomite creates the distinctive limestone bluffs, rock outcrops and ravines of the park. The Silurian dolomite, the unglaciated Driftless Area terrain and the river erosion created the rugged backbone landscape.

Backbone State Park’s forested ridges, ravines, trout streams and lake support white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, mink, beavers, wood ducks and a rich forest birdlife — eastern wood-pewees, ovenbirds, wood thrushes, scarlet tanagers, and warbler diversity in migration — along with the stocked rainbow trout and native warm-water fish in the lake. The Driftless Area forests are biodiverse. Backbone offers excellent birding and wildlife watching, with the warbler migration in May, the wood duck nesting season and the breeding forest birds among the highlights.

Backbone State Park protects a remnant of the Driftless Area’s forested ravine and ridge ecosystem — a mix of upland oak-hickory forest, mesic maple-basswood forest in the ravines, algific (cold-air) talus slope communities, limestone bluffs and clear-water streams — supporting unusual plant communities (including arctic-relict plant species in the cold-air slopes) and diverse wildlife. The trout-stream habitat and the limestone bluff communities are sensitive. Protecting the streams, the bluff communities and the forest sustains both the ecology and the rugged beauty of Backbone State Park.

Backbone State Park holds a treasured place among the icons of Iowa — the state’s oldest state park, a rugged Driftless Area gem of limestone ridges, trout streams and forested ravines, with CCC-built stone lodges and cabins and a century of Iowa outdoor tradition. Its Devil’s Backbone traverse and the clear-water Maquoketa River trout fishery are beloved Iowa experiences. Backbone State Park is a cherished natural and historical icon of Iowa.

Backbone State Park is in northeast Iowa in Delaware County, about 7 miles southwest of the city of Strawberry Point off Iowa Highway 410. The park has a campground (reservations recommended), CCC-built cabins and lodge (reservable), trails, the lake swimming beach, boat ramp (electric motors only), a rock climbing/rappelling area and trout-fishing access on the Maquoketa River. A state-park entry fee applies. Strawberry Point (7 miles northeast) has services. Check Iowa DNR State Parks for camping reservations, fees and current conditions before visiting.

Iowa DNR manages Backbone State Park and the Maquoketa River trout fishery. Visitors help by staying on designated trails to protect the fragile algific talus slopes and limestone bluffs, protecting the trout-stream water quality, respecting wildlife, following fishing regulations, packing out everything, and following all park rules. The algific (cold-air) talus slopes, the trout stream and the limestone bluff communities are sensitive and protected. Protecting the streams, the bluffs and the forest sustains both the ecology and the rugged beauty of Backbone State Park.

The Devil’s Backbone traverse is a narrow limestone ridge walk with some exposure — it is not technical but requires care; keep children close and avoid the edge in wet or icy conditions. The forest trails can be slippery on muddy or wet days; wear sturdy footwear. Ticks are common in the warm-season forest; check after hiking. The limestone bluffs attract rock climbers (a permit is required; stay in designated climbing areas). The lake swimming is in a designated area; watch children near the water. Respect the narrow ridge, the slippery trails, the ticks and the water.

A state-park entry fee applies. Camping and cabins require reservations (Iowa DNR reservation system). Rock climbing and rappelling require a permit (contact the park in advance). Trout fishing requires an Iowa license and a trout stamp; follow size and bag limits. Electric motors only on the lake. Pets must be leashed. Stay on designated trails; protect the algific talus slopes and limestone bluffs. Pack out all trash. Check Iowa DNR for current fees, reservations, rock-climbing permits and conditions before visiting.

The town of Strawberry Point (with the world’s largest strawberry), the Upper Iowa River for canoeing to the northeast, Effigy Mounds National Monument to the east, the small city of Manchester, and the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa lie near the park. The Iowa Driftless Area and the Maquoketa River valley define the region. Backbone anchors the outdoor experience of the northeast Iowa Driftless Area, a centerpiece of a Driftless Area loop, easily combined with the Upper Iowa River canoeing, Effigy Mounds and the scenic bluff country.

Hike the Devil’s Backbone traverse at dawn for the narrow limestone ridge in morning light, the forested ravines and the best birding (May is exceptional for warblers). Fish the Maquoketa River for stocked rainbow trout in spring (bring an Iowa fishing license and trout stamp). Stay in one of the historic CCC-built cabins for a classic Iowa state-park experience, swim in the lake on a summer day, and bring tick repellent for the wooded trails. Come in fall for brilliant ravine-and-ridge color that rivals New England.