Iowa Counties
100 counties with mapped trails or parks in Iowa. Pick one to see what’s there.
Allamakee County
Appanoose County
Atchison County
Benton County
Black Hawk County
Boone County
Bremer County
Buchanan County
Butler County
Carroll County
Cass County
Cedar County
Cerro Gordo County
Cherokee County
Chickasaw County
Clark County
Clarke County
Clay County
Clayton County
Clinton County
Crawford County
Dallas County
Davis County
Decatur County
Delaware County
Des Moines County
Dickinson County
Douglas County
Dubuque County
Emmet County
Fayette County
Floyd County
Franklin County
Fulton County
Grant County
Greene County
Grundy County
Guthrie County
Hancock County
Hardin County
Harrison County
Henry County
Howard County
Humboldt County
Ida County
Iowa County
Jackson County
Jasper County
Jefferson County
Jo Daviess County
Johnson County
Jones County
Knox County
Kossuth County
Lafayette County
Lancaster County
Lee County
Lincoln County
Linn County
Louisa County
Lucas County
Lyon County
Madison County
Mahaska County
Marion County
Marshall County
McDonough County
Mercer County
Mills County
Mitchell County
Monona County
Montgomery County
Muscatine County
Nodaway County
O'Brien County
Osceola County
Otoe County
Page County
Pocahontas County
Polk County
Pottawattamie County
Richland County
Rock Island County
Sac County
Sarpy County
Saunders County
Scott County
Sioux County
Story County
Tama County
Union County
Van Buren County
Wapello County
Warren County
Washington County
Webster County
Whiteside County
Winneshiek County
Woodbury County
Wright County
Guides & rankings
Hiking guides for Iowa
Photo: Sergei AkulichState Rankings
The 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 MrzykState Rankings
Iowa'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 AkulichState Rankings
The Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Iowa
Ten gentle, well-marked Iowa trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykState Rankings
The 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Iowa
Iowa's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoParks & Travel
The 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 MrzykState Rankings
Best 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.