Hiking Trails & Parks in Iowa
3,512 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 77 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Iowa. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Iowa
Iowa has 3,512 mapped hiking trails and 77 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 100 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 100 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Iowa
A spatially-sampled view of 466 trail and park locations across Iowa’s counties.
Iowa Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 100 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Iowa
Parks & Campgrounds in Iowa
Longest Trails in Iowa
Curated Guides for Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Iowa?
Yes — we have 3,512 mapped hiking and walking trails in Iowa, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Iowa?
101x near North Liberty is rated hard — the toughest classification among Iowa's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Iowa for families?
ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 1 near Tipton is one of the best family picks in Iowa — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Iowa?
Each of the 3,512 trails in Iowa has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Iowa?
Iowa has 77 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (21 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Iowa?
Yes — 16 of Iowa's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is ISLAND VIEW (RATHBUN LAKE) with 192 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Iowa
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Iowa, Ranked
Iowa's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Tobias MrzykIowa's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Iowa trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Iowa
Ten gentle, well-marked Iowa trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Iowa
Iowa's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Iowa
Federal parks and recreation areas in Iowa ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Tobias MrzykBest Waterfall Hikes in Iowa: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Iowa's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.