When you think of Iowa, you probably think of corn and farmland. While that’s a fair assessment (and what you’ll see if you take Interstate 80 all the way across Iowa), what if I told you that there were some fun caves to explore? Maquoketa Caves State Park in eastern Iowa makes for a fun and adventurous day where you can hike and crawl around inside caves.
About Maquoketa Caves State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park is located just outside of Maquoketa, Iowa. Here you’ll find numerous caves to explore. Some can be easily walked through while others will require you to crawl on your hands and knees if you want to see inside. Plus, there’s some nice nature trails linking the caves together.
While it’s easy to just think of the caves as a fun place to explore, Native American artifacts have also been found in the area. So it’s not just a popular spot to visit today, but it’s been somewhere that people have used and visited for hundreds of years.
All About the Caves
I’m going to do my best to cover each cave, but as there’s 14 unique caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park, it may be a bit difficult. While I visited the exterior of every cave, I did not visit the inside of each cave. If a cave required crawling (aka half of the caves on this list), I skipped the interior. The good news is that there are plenty of caves that you can visit that don’t require crawling on your hands and knees.
Wide Mouth Cave
From the main parking lot, if you enter the trail to the north, you’ll have a choice to make. You can head down to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Dancehalls or hike up a hill which will put you on a trail to some other caves. You’ll eventually loop back down so you could go either way, but the dancehalls are the most impressive so I recommend saving them for the end. If you hike up the hill, the first cave you’ll reach is Wide Mouth Cave.
Wide Mouth Caves requires you to crouch through its wide mouth to access the interior of the cave.
Dug Out Cave
Just down the trail from Wide Mouth Cave, you’ll reach Dug Out Cave. This cave is dug out so if you want to check out the interior of the cave, be prepared to get on your hands and knees and crawl through the opening.
Twin Arch Cave
Next you’ll reach Twin Arch Cave where you can actually walk through the cave. It’s a small area and it looks cool, but honestly there isn’t a ton to see here. But hey, you finally reached a cave that you don’t have to crawl through. I promise there are more—including the most impressive cave at Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Hernando’s Hideaway
Hernando’s Hideaway is cave #4 and it’s another cave that you’ll need to be prepared to crawl into.
Up-N-Down Cave
At Up-N-Down Cave, you’ll need to crouch your way in, but it’s not quite that easy. First you need to climb up on a rock and enter through a whole in the rock wall. Then you’ll crawl your way into the cave.
Window Cave
Continuing with crawling through caves, Window Cave is another cave that fits that description. Crawl through the entrance to explore inside.
Match Cave
Match Cave is another cave where you’ll need to crawl through if you want to enter. Are you starting to sense a theme?
Barbell Cave
To access this cave, you’ll need to hop up on a rock and then crawl into the cave. I didn’t crawl into the cave, but there was a man much larger than me who managed to do it, which leads me to believe that there’s a decent amount of room (at least for a little ways) inside the cave (although you should expect to crawl).
Shinbone Cave
This hike is another that’s up a hill and like with most of the caves, you’ll need to crawl through.
Wye Cave
We tried to access Wye Cave from the main trail, but couldn’t actually find it. Later, after a snack at our car, we tried again, this time attempting to access Wye Cave from the parking lot near the picnic areas and restrooms. We found it without any issue. So if you want to avoid a steep climb up a hill and some confusion about where the cave actually is, access it from the parking lot.
I did not enter this cave, but I talked to someone who did. It’s a difficult entrance where you’ll need to crawl down a hole that goes about 90 degrees. Once inside you’ll have a lot more room and you’ll actually find an underground river. So while it sounds awesome, be ready for an adventure.
Upper Dancehall Cave/Middle Dancehall/Steelgate Cave/Lower Dancehall Cave
These caves are listed individually if you look at a map, but it’s easy to walk all the way through from the Lower Dancehall Cave to the Upper Dancehall Cave (covering Middle Dancehall in the middle). This is the most impressive area of Maquoketa Caves State Park. These caves are the biggest and you can walk through, instead of crawl through. Just note that in some areas, you will need to crouch as the ceiling is low.
Rainy Day Cave
Rainy Day Cave is the place where you may get a little wet. This isn’t to say you’ll need an umbrella or anything like that, but rather, be prepared to be dripped on. Additionally the rocks and path near the cave can be very slick due to the moisture so be careful.
The good news is, Rainy Day Cave is a cave that you don’t need to crawl through. Just walk in.
Ice Cave
If you are here on a hot and humid day, Ice Cave is going to be a favorite. This cave is named because it is so cold inside the cave. On my first visit to Maquoketa Caves State Park, it was very humid and we could actually see our breath inside the cave (as well as the moisture in the air). On my second visit, it wasn’t very humid (but it was still very hot), so while the cave felt refreshing, it wasn’t as cool as my first visit.
To enter Ice Cave, you’ll crouch down and walk a few steps. Then once, inside, the cave is large enough for multiple people to stand at full height.
Hiking at Maquoketa Caves State Park
While there’s no “easy” loop to reach all 14 caves, you can hike through the park to reach all of them. On my visit, I logged 2.9 miles and 475 feet of elevation gain over 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Entrance Fees at Maquoketa Caves State Park
Entrance to Maquoketa Caves State Park is free.
How to Get to Maquoketa Caves State Park
You’ll need your own vehicle in order to visit Maquoketa Caves State Park. The park is located off of Highway 428 near the town of Maquoketa, Iowa.
When to Visit Maquoketa Caves State Park
It is possible to visit Maquoketa Caves all year round, but some seasons are better than others. During the winter, you need to prepare for snow and ice across the trails. This would be the one time of year where I’d reconsider travel.
In spring you’ll find flowers blooming and the trees budding and starting to come back to life. Temperatures will also start to get warmer.
Summer is peak travel season. The forest surrounding the caves will be a lush green, but you should expect high temperatures.
In fall, the leaves change colors and the park becomes full of yellows and oranges. Temperatures also start to drop, making it a more pleasant hiking experience.
I’ve visited Maquoketa Caves twice. The first time in mid June and the second time in mid May. Both were incredibly hot, but I think my luck is just terrible. The good news is that the caves are cooler so when you explore the caves, you may find yourself getting a short break from the heat, and more importantly the humidity.
How Long Do You Need at Maquoketa Caves State Park
I’ve visited Maquoketa Caves State Park twice and each time it’s only taken us a half day to reach all of the caves. Admittedly, we did not crawl through the caves, but we stopped and checked out each one.
On a quick visit, you can just walk through Upper, Middle, and Lower Dancehalls. This would take you less than an hour.
With two hours, you can explore a bit more of the caves.
With three hours, you can comfortably visit every cave on this list without feeling rushed.
If you have more time, I’d consider looking to add something else to your itinerary. You just don’t need that amount of time at Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Nearby Maquoketa Caves State Park
Admittedly, Maquoketa Caves State Park is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The city of Maquoketa is nearby, but it’s not what I would call a major tourist destination. However, I think there’s enough in the general area that you could make a quick weekend trip.
For more hiking and nature, you could look to add Mines of Spain State Recreation Area to your itinerary. This park sits along side the Mississippi River and has some interesting hiking trails with glimpses of the bluffs. In the other direction you have Wapsipinicon State Park which features a river, two more caves, and a nice drive. It’s small, so you won’t need a ton of time here. If given the choice, I’d pick Mines of Spain of Wapsipinicon State Park.
For more urban exploration, an hour drive to the northeast is Galena, Illinois. This town is the home of US President Ulysses S. Grant and has a very fun shopping and commercial street. We’ve added in Galena to both of our trips to Maquoketa and have enjoyed it each time.
Final Thoughts
So often when people (myself included) think of Iowa, we just think of endless cornfields. Don’t get me wrong, those endless cornfields definitely exist, but there’s more to the state of Iowa. Maquoketa Caves State Park is just one example. While it may not be as grand as Mammoth Cave National Park (or any of the cave national parks), Maquoketa Caves makes a fun place to explore for a few hours.
Continue Your Adventure
More Caves: Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park is the largest cave system in the world. In New Mexico, visit the deepest cave in the United States at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are separated by a short drive.
More in the Midwest: Chicago is a hub for Midwest exploration. You could also venture across Iowa to reach Omaha. It’s debatable whether St. Louis is part of the Midwest, but it’s nearby as well.