![]() Before scaling, climbers and rappelers must register at the park office for documentation and in case of an accident. The most popular rocks to climb are near the Backbone Trail. There are many challenging cliffs along the rugged dolomite limestone throughout the park. Backbone contains many buildings built by the CCC, and the museum goes into the history of these structures. The Iowa Civilian Conservation Corps Museum opened in 1990 and provides visitors an interesting look at the work of the CCC in Iowa’s state parks. Other popular hikes include East Lake trail, West Lake Trail, Six Pines Trail, and Barred Owl Trail. The 7-mile loop around Backbone Lake is the best way to see and experience what the park has to offer. Most are long and rugged, with beautiful vistas, marshy wetlands, lake shorelines, open prairies, and hill climbs. There are 21 miles of trails in Backbone State Park. Eastern wood pewees and American redstarts can also be spotted within the park. There are 123 bird species within the park, harboring neotropical migratory birds like warblers, flycatchers, tanagers, vireos, grosbeaks, and songbirds. It can accommodate large recreational vehicles and tent campers.īackbone State Park is an IRA, or Important Birding Area, and an eBird Hotspot. South Lake Campground is a more modern camping facility on the southeast side of the park. It’s popular among dry campers, tent campers, and climbers. Six Pines is the main campground located on the west side of Backbone Lake. The park has 2 campgrounds that have 125 campsites in total. The lake is limited to electric-only boat motors and can be launched from a ramp near the dam. There is a sand beach located by the beach lodge, where you can also rent boats. It can be used for swimming, fishing, and boating. The trout are stocked by the Iowa DNR hatcheries all throughout the year.īackbone Lake was built by the Civilian Conversation Corps off the dam of the Maquoketa River. It is located at the north end of the park and has a sidewalk right up to the stream bank. Our State Park Visitors Guide outlines a list of the main sites and what they entail.įenchel Creek, a 1.4-mile stream fed by Richmond Springs, hosts a ton of trout fish and is the main reason for the popularity of fishing in the park. With over 2,000 acres of land, there is no lack of things to see and do within the park. If you enjoy outdoors activities, Backbone State Park is the place for you. They built dams along the Maquoketa River which formed Backbone Lake, a cluster of rustic cabins, bridges, roads, picnic areas, trails, and more. Much of the park’s infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933. Backbone is named after the narrow limestone ridge along the Maquoketa River, named “The Devil’s Backbone”. It was officially established in May 1920. When did Backbone become a State Parkīackbone State Park was the first state park in Iowa, created after the passage of the State Park Act in 1917. No matter the season, there are always activities that can be carried out in the park, like hiking in the warmer weather or cross-country skiing in colder temperatures. The snowy period of the year lasts a little over 4 months, from November to late March. There is a higher chance of rain starting in early April and lasting until late September. It gets much cloudier in the fall and winter months. The clearest part of the year begins in June and ends in October. The temperature typically varies from 17☏ to 86☏ and is rarely below -3☏ or above 95☏. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with heavy winds and dry air. ![]() ![]() Summers are rainy and humid with temperatures spiking up to 80☏ or greater. Backbone State Park Weatherīackbone State Park experiences the highs and lows of all four seasons. This created 80-feet cliffs that many visitors climb and rappel today. This history can be seen in the park today, with a large ridge of rock dividing the park. ![]() This protected the dolomite formations from over 25 million years ago. The geology of the area is particularly notable as a section of the Driftless Area, it was left unglaciated during the most recent Ice Age. There are more than 21 miles of trails, containing natural rock formations, man-made waterways, and local wildlife. How Big is Backbone State Parkīackbone has 2,001 acres of land with a variety of tree species, predominately oak and maple. It is 55 miles north of Cedar Rapids and 160 miles northeast of Des Moines. Located in the valley of the Maquoketa River, Backbone US State Park is three miles south of Strawberry Point in Delaware County, Iowa. With thousands of heavily wooded acres and the adjoining Backbone State Forest, it offers standout activates like rock climbing, trout fishing, jagged trail hikes, and impressive masonry work from the Civilian Conversation Corps. Backbone was Iowa’s first state park and is now considered one of the most geologically unique. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |