10 Beautiful Natural Wonders In Iowa You'll Want To Explore (2024)

Our list of stunning natural wonders in Iowa begins with the iconic Loess Hills. During the Ice Age, glaciers moved across the Midwest, grinding rock into dust as they went. When the glaciers started to melt, the valleys flooded and the sediment formed deposits that dried out and eventually became covered by grass. Because of this long process of Mother Nature, we have the beautiful Loess Hills. Learn more about why Loess Hills is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Iowa.

Because it is located in the Driftless Area of Iowa, which escaped glaciation during the ice age, the limestone caves of Maquoketa were subject to thousands of years of natural erosion, which gave us the wonderful and magical Maquoketa Caves we have the pleasure of visiting today. These Iowa caves are an absolute must-visit.

The Upper Iowa River in the northeast part of the state is another landmark located in the Driftless Area of Iowa. Because no glaciers came through to flatten the land, there are steep bluffs and canyons that line the river's edge, making it unlike most of the other rivers in Iowa.

Pikes Peak is a gorgeous park overlooking the Mississippi River, near McGregor. From the top of the 500-foot bluff, you can see the beauty of Mother Nature for miles. Indeed, Pike's Peak State Park is home to the very best lookout in Iowa.

No list of natural wonders in Iowa is complete without the Crystal Lake Cave. Over a very long amount of time, the slow-moving groundwater carved a cave from layers of limestone. After a while, the water became acidic and seeped through the ground, creating the caverns and passages that we now walk through at Crystal Lake Cave in Dubuque.

The sandstone that forms the cliffs of Ledges State Park, near Boone, are the remnants of a prehistoric sea that covered the Midwest around 300 million years ago. The cliffs themselves were formed as a result of the glaciation during the Ice Age when the water from the melting glaciers carved out cliffs that would be used for our enjoyment 13,000 years later. These ancient glacial deposits in Iowa are nothing short of remarkable.

Unlike much of the rest of Iowa, this area was bypassed by the last of the glaciers to move through the Midwest, which left time for the streams to carve out deep channels in the terrain, eventually creating this beautiful scene we get to enjoy today.

Eagle Point Park in Dubuque is a lovely area that's situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The area is full of natural beauty, which you can enjoy from the gorgeous overlook. The park is just one of many gifts Mother Nature bestowed upon Iowa. Eagle Point Park boasts some of the best views in Iowa, so be sure to bring your camera!

Three Mile Lake in Afton is a mecca for nature of all kinds. From the fish that swim in the lake to the birds that nest in the nearby wooded area, to the deer and other creatures that make their home here, the area is truly one of nature's wonders right here in Iowa.

Spirit Lake, like the rest of the Iowa Great Lakes, is a giant glacial pothole that was formed during the last Ice Age, when the glaciers in the area melted and formed lakes. Thanks to some glaciers melting 13,000 years ago, we now get to spend our summers enjoying this beautiful lake with its clear, blue waters.