Maquoketa Caves State Park Reviews

This is a really scenic trip. Plenty of places to explore and walk. It's really neat to see something than the rolling hills of central Iowa. I can't wait to go back again.

I have been wanting to go to this park for awhile and was finally able to and was not disappointed. It's a beautiful park and the caves are so much fun. There were a lot of people there. This was so much fun and next time I will take my son, the kids there seemed to love it!

This was the final destination of mine and the fella's anniversary roadtrip. Had lived in nearby Wisco for years and never heard of this place but will definitely be back.

It was a little crowded when we first got there, but by no means intrusive. Ha. It was actually kinda nice to know someone would hear us scream. It was more crowded on the side with the bigger caverns, as they're quite the spectacle.

The smaller ones didn't seem to get near as much love, but were worth seeing and had a more relaxing walk between them. Perfect to do last, since we'd already been climbing and crawling all over the place for a good few hours by then!

We started with a backpack, complete with attached thermos to stay hydrated and his Canon for pics. One cave in and we realized that many accessories weren't gonna fly. Went back to the car and ditched everything, but our phones for pics and our handheld, LED flashlights.

When we go back, I'm thinking baggy cargos to allow for better movement and pockets for a mini water bottle (the sweat was real). Also maybe a headlamp. We got by fine with our mini LEDs (5 dollhairs from the hardware in Bellevue. Huzzah!) but handsfree would be nice, when you like to get as dirty as we do.

Also, unrelated to the caves themselves, but you're prolly gonna work up quite an appetite. Our Airbnb host told us about this great, all you can eat fish fry place. Couldn't remember where she said and we were in no shape to go inside an eating establishment, when we got done at the caves, so we went back to shower before dinner. Asked her where the place was and ended up having to go all the way back through the park, a half dozen cornfields and a working farm (this can't be right. where the hell are we?!) to get back to this place. Fully recommend Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, but depending how far you're staying from the park, you may wanna go before the caves or make preparations to get cleaned up there after.

This was unbelievable. Pictures don't do this place justice, but its absolutely breathtaking. There are about 16 caves to explore. Some are more difficult than others. Some of them you just have to crouch through, some you have to crawl through (you will get dirty if you do these) and some you can stand up straight in. The ice cave was awesome, you could feel the temperature change immediately! I went on a hot day, and inside the ice cave was about 45 degrees. It was cooling! Every cave was beautiful though. And the hiking around it was great.
Bring an extra pair of shoes for after your hikes because some of the caves have mud or puddles. Also, definitely bring a flashlight!!! Some of the caves are pitch dark.
Also, you don't have to pay to get in, which is very nice. I recommend this to everyone and anyone!

I visited the park twice in one weekend and I was fascinated by it. I only hiked and peeked into many of the caves because I didn't have a change of clothes and a flashlight. I especially enjoyed my twilight hikes - the park was eerily peaceful and the bats were out. Free admission and parking. About 6 miles of the highway.

We spent 4 hours walking through beautiful caves, listening to DNR naturalist explain the situation with bats and fungi, and walking through gullies with ferns, pitcher plants, trillium, columbine and cool streams. Beautiful.

One of the most beautiful places in Iowa. Pictures don't even do this place justice. Make sure you bring shoes with lots of traction as it's very slippery. The ice cave is INSANE. A must see for sure.

This is a great state park. The trails are nice and you don’t have to go far before you get to the cave. We were traveling so didn’t want to get too dirty. Would love to go back when I have more time.

This place was beautiful and very unique for the area. I loved everything I saw, but it was what I didn't see that was difficult - there were no signs along the way for you to figure out where you were going. Every person we encountered also had no idea where they were. It seemed people just kept looping around and around with no real idea where they were going. That's a bummer because I would have liked to see more, but I felt like I had to repeat parts in fear of getting lost if I kept going in another direction. Overall though, I DO recommend this place, just be prepared for a little confusion. Also, wear good shoes - some trails were muddy and rocks were slippery. Gorgeous place though, worth the cons.

I read somewhere that this park opens at 8am so that's when we arrived...but the sign at the park said something like from 4am to 10 pm. The maps there aren't very helpful - we had more success pulling up the trails on our phones (reception was ok w/ US Cellular). You want to be prepared to get DIRTY. Like, super dirty.
I brought my 2, 7, 10 year old children and husband. Do NOT bring a stroller under any circumstances - you'll end up carrying it every 2 feet or so.
We went into the main cave - there are these little stepping stones you can go across. I was scared at first because, "WHAT IF I FALL IN?" but we carefully stepped on them as they were partially submerged in the water. You have to duck a little bit, but then it opens back up. There is a walkway, but be careful! When you're rounding the curve depending on water levels you may not be able to see the edge of the walk path...and you can fall in. Like my 10 year old did (it was up to her chest). It was absolutely worth it though - exhilarating.
We chose to make our way back through the same way we came when we were through and didn't even use the stepping stones this time as we were drenched anyway.

Beautiful caves to walk through. Easy to get back to. Hard to miss all of the people. Fun to climb around the park and to walk through the insides of the caves. We have paid to see the interiors of so many other caves. This takes the cake being free and beautiful. Some are dark so make sure to bring a flashlight or head lamp.

I was a little worried this location might be one that required a great deal of hiking skill. We only did the caves we could walk in not crawl in. It is definitely an okay place for amateurs. Just make sure you have on good walking shoes.

Worth stopping by for couple hours before heading back to Chicagoland after visisting Dubuque area for short trip.

Very beautiful, very popular, very busy state park. Parking fills up fast on weekends. Lots to see and do. Hiking, bird watching or climbing through caves are popular activities. Wear comfortable, sturdy, waterproof shoes. Bring water and a flashlight. Excellent family activity.

I visited here with a friend over Mem Day weekend, and we had a great time. It was so cool to see and explore all the different caves by trail and boardwalk. Following the creek through a cave under the road was super cool. We went up to Valley Overlook trail to the gazebo, then returned to the trailhead. The boardwalks are in excellent condition, so caves are accessible to anyone who can do stairs.

A great experience! We will definitely be returning next year. The paths were great, but we really enjoyed hiking off the regular path. The possibilities are endless.

FREE way to spend your day plus very fascinating and a way to get exercise. There are 13 caves at this park. Family enjoyed hiking through caves. Our kids thanked us many times for taking them there as they had so much fun exploring!

This is one of a kind place.
It should be a national monument where everyone visits.
16 caves of the age over 400 million years in the middle of the Iowa beautiful corn fields.
You have to be ready for going do6and up 100s of stairs.
I think the wood stairs are safe enough.
You can take kids that you don't ha6to carry.
There are restrooms, camping site,
Park with a playground.
There is a very good beautiful family restaurant few miles away that works Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a gift shop in it.
It works all year round except the month of December.
Bluff lacke Catfish farm restaurant, with extremely beautiful indoor and outdoors seats.

I took my 3 girls - 9, 7 and 4 - to MCSP and we spent a fantastic morning exploring the caves. We got there early enough that there were only 2 or 3 other cars there so it was pretty quiet. By the time we left it was no longer so quiet. The caves and trails are really, really nice. I've lived in eastern Iowa most of my life and had never been to the park. I expected it to be "okay" but was really quite impressed with what we saw. It made me nervous to see the kids in the little caves I couldn't really fit in but it was also good to let them explore. Complaints? They all agreed the bathroom was pretty disgusting (the men's wasn't too bad, though) and that there was a fair bit of trash on the trails. Also if you head out without a map it's easy to get turned around as the signage isn't very helpful on the trails. There were plenty of maps left out in the shelter where the bathrooms are by the caves.

We were lucky and had a gorgeous day in October to enjoy this park. Unfortunately, we didn't bring any caving gear along, so we couldn't experience the cave network, but the hiking was great. Everyone must check-in with the ranger and receive a wristband before entering the park. The ranger is set up at a table handy to the restrooms and was a good information source before starting our day.

After descending the stairs, the rock formation appears quite low and I was tempted to turn back (the kids were way ahead of me, not daunted by a low ceiling), but the low part only lasts for about 200 ft. or so and then opens up (no crawling, just bending). The kids enjoyed all of the nooks to explore and rocks to climb. There were a couple of steep places along the path, with nothing to hold for support except trees and my daughter's hand. The map was a little hard to follow, but we were there to enjoy the outdoors and roaming around was fun.

We spent about 3 hours and the kids were tired and ready to go when we arrived back at the car. On the way home we stopped in Maquoketa for some groceries, which looks like a nice little town. There were several community breakfast offerings the following day; wish there had been an activity that night, we'd have gone.

Just an hour west of Savanna/Galena this was a perfect side trip and one we'll make again (with caving gear).

The caves were spectacular, especially Dance Hall cave! It was awesome feeling the temperature difference between the cool caves and the warmer outside; Ice Cave especially was refreshing after a hot and humid hike. There was rain before we visited so there was some mud and a few caves were closed due to storm damage, but there are 15 total so we still saw 12 or so of them. I would say only 5 of the caves are big enough to enter without fully laying down and crawling, since the other ones are super tight. Nonetheless overall a super fun experience, my friend and I spend 2.5 hours here and it felt like the perfect amount!

We went on Labor Day, so we can't speak to what attendance is like any other day, but we were there by 9:30 AM and parking was filling fast. When we left a couple hours later, it was overflowing with people and vehicles. The volunteer group Friends Of The Makoqueta Caves State Park were there, welcoming visitors, providing maps, and making suggestions, and were all friendly and helpful. We traveled with our 16 year old and 9 year old through about half the cave course, and found our way without too much trouble, and both kids had a great time. You'll definitely want a flashlight or headlamp, jacket (it gets cool underground), clothes that you can get dirty, shoes with good traction (lot of damp, and uneven terrain), and drinking water. Lots of opportunity for great photos, and some time with the family in the outdoors. The DNR website has limited specific information, so you may want to check outside sources for reviews or additional information.

Was visiting family with my 10 year old daughter who has never seen a cave. I used to visit here every year as a child myself as my grandparents lived fairly close.

First off there is no admission or parking charges! Parking does fill fast during the weekends and we got in ine of the last remaining spaces. Workers are friendly and happy to point you the right direction.

These caves and the surrounding area are just amazing, especially if you have never been inside a cave. They are cool, mostly dark, damp/wet so wear old shoes. I don't like tight spaces so I stayed in the larger ones but many people were climbing into the various tunnels and exploring. There is some ducking but I never had to crawl and we went through 4-5 caves in total.

I am not 100% sure but I do not believe any would be ADA accessible. The caves and park are quite hilly with rocky terrain, however there are plenty of places to stop and rest if needed.

We visited Maquoketa Cave State park on July 2, 2017 with my husband, two grandkids age six and eight and their parents. We were there visiting the grandkids and decided it would be a great day trip. It was a very interesting experience. There are 6 miles of trails which have several caves. Some of the caves you have to crawl into on your belly and others you can walk in to or bend over in certain parts and walk into. There are several little creeks running through that the kids liked to play in. There are beautiful trees. There are several steps however the walk was not too taxing for anyone in the group. If one had to use a cane or a walker it may be a little harder due to several steps. The park does not charge an entrance fee. Dogs were allowed. There's nothing to buy to eat there however there are bathrooms at the entrance to the park. There are also campgrounds and picnic areas. All in all it is a beautiful thing to see and well worth the trip. You should wear old clothes and be prepared to get a bit muddy. Especially if you have small children.

Great place to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors - some really good caves. Camping is available. Some times it can be crowded with people, other times we are the only one there. Try to explore off the main trails and you won't run into as many. Highly recommend.

We took a trip to the caves on a Saturday and it was awesome. If you are adventurous and are planning on exploring some caves, make sure you wear old clothes and bring a flashlight. If not, there are plenty of great trails you can walk along. Either way, it is a great time for all ages and anyone who loves being outdoors.

A most unique state park. Beautiful hiking trails lead to many caves to explore. Many of these require crawling and getting dirty so bring spare clothes and shoes. Excellent for young explorers, scouts ect. Campsites are on grounds and require a reservation. Well worth the trip.

In a state that seems to be covered in corn and soybeans from one end to the other this park is a complete surprise. Driving down into the forest you begin to notice the limestone bluffs crop up around you.
By far the most interesting part of the park is its namesake. Taking a hike through the caves themselves is easy and fun. While they are not deep and long they are perfect on a hot summer day. There is a lot of flora and fauna also to be noticed if one takes the time to look around. Picnic areas are available so bring your lunch and enjoy the atmosphere.

This place is so much fun! We definitely didn’t expect it to be so big or to enjoy it as much as we did but we were very surprised! There are 13 caves of all sizes you can explore. The dancehall caves were my favorite, they are massive! Thea lots of little streams running throughout the park so you will get wet most likely. We spent the whole day here taking our time & making our way through the whole park. We got off the trail a lot but I don’t recommend doing this if your are not good with reading maps or directions bc it’s very easy to get turned around/lost & there’s almost no reception in the park. The signage isn’t the best but take a pic with your phone so you will have it to look at in case you don’t get a printed map from the office. There are tons of stairs going mostly uphill, the trails are full of random big rocks, exposed tree roots & are uneven & sometimes slippery so be very careful & pay attention to where you’re stepping. A walking stick helps keep balance. A good pair of hiking boots would’ve been great to have when I was visiting. Bring flashlights with extra batteries, some of the caves are pitch black dark & phones light is too dim. You may want to bring a few drinks/snacks bc it takes a few hours to get through at minimum & there’s nowhere to get anything at the park & no nearby stores. The bathrooms were pretty clean. The lady in the office was super sweet/helpful. Parking is pretty limited, so I suggest going early. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash. I’m so glad I found this place & we had the opportunity to check it out. My first time going to see caves turned out to be a trip I’ll always remember. Highly recommend!!!

We visited Maquoketa Caves State Park at the end of May with 24 scouts ages 10-11. The park was very accommodating for our visit. We started off in the visitor center to learn a little about the park and the bat white nose syndrome. Then we headed to the Great Hall cave where one of the rangers gave a tour for us. The ranger did a great job explaining the history of the park and the cave features. Then we were on our own to explore the caves. Our first cave was Wye Cave (one of the favorites among the group). You drop 6 feet or so into this cave then it opens up into a larger area before it narrows again. Another favorite cave was Wide Mouth Cave. The cave features are small but are still amazing. You will definitely get dirty so make sure to bring a change of clothes. There are a lot of stairs and hills along the trail so be ready to climb.

We had the kids wear bike helmets and we used camping head lights. Make sure to bring extra batteries or additional light sources.

The only negative comment I have is that the trails are not marked that well. We left Wye Cave and followed the trail to find the next cave. Since there were no signs in the area leaving Wye Cave and we ended up taking the trail all the way to a prairie grass planting area. We found our way back but it took away some cave exploring time. The park map does not match the exact trail layout.

There is no fee to visit the park.

I found this through an Iowa travel page I subscribe to on Facebook. Based on the photos I saw, I knew this would be in my future travel plans.
As luck would have it, summer plans were to Wisconsin, so a deotur was planned. Beuatiful county roads from Anamosa east.
The lady at the visitors center was full of great information, walked us through the map. The park has had recent upgrades; new bathroom facilities, expanded and paved parking.
We started at the Dancehall cave and wne the whole way through. Really fun and pretty with the waterway running next to you.
to see other caves in the park, we took the north trails. This appeared to have the most caves to see in the shortest walking distance.
I love this type of eco-system, with the ferns everywhere. Wildlife galore, numerous bird species spotted, muskrats and squirrels.
Definitely wear a good pair of hikers, it can be muddy and slippery on some of the trails. If you want to really explore some of the farther out caves, wear your grungy clothes and bring a flashlight. Several people we ran in to said the spelunking was fun there.

This was our first activity on a western adventure road trip and it did not disappoint! We took our three kids (10,8,and 5) to explore the caves. I read other reviews and was so happy to have worn clothes to get wet and muddy in, and to have flashlights (hands free one really help), and a camera. I was surprised to find an actual walkway built through Dancehall Cave. That one is a real must see! Extra climbing is available for the adventurous ones. We also really enjoyed Rainy Day! Great day in nature! There is a clerk off station up the hill behind the bathrooms. [My one negative for this park was the bathrooms. They were so dirty! They were being attended to, but as we got there about an hour after open, I would have liked to find them clean and ready for the day.]

My husband and I had been saying for years, since we were dating, that we needed to go play around in the caves. I had been as a child but we just never got around to it. For out wedding anniversary we finally made the time. The trails are muddy so wear grubby shoes and clothes. Knee pads and a flashlight are luxuries to pack if you really want to explore a little off the beaten path. Well worth the drive from the QC.

We had planned to stop here on our way to our hotel to kill a couple hours. That was not long enough and we ended up spending the entire afternoon and really needed longer. There is no charge to see all of this beauty and believe me it is worth you time.

I'm not a regular hiker, but this is a fun place to wander around. The caves are taken care of and even lighted in some places.

Pleanty of picnic areas and parking. Don't hesitate to bring the family.

This place is just literally awesome! Some of the most beautiful scenery in Iowa. Lots of great hiking trails. It should be listed in Maquoketa instead of Iowa and as the #1 thing to do. If you love caves or hiking or beautiful scenery, just go!

We love love love this place! The campgrounds are surrounded by super tall and beautiful trees. The bathrooms are clean and they had movie night when we were there over the weekend. They even supplied popcorn. I don't even know how to describe how awesome the caves are. My boys 5, 3 and 2 were in their element and loving every second of it. I brought rain boots and I'm very glad I did. Some of the caves have puddles you need to walk through if you want to keep going and one of them is a stream. I didn't bring enough clothes either. We went back 3 times over the weekend and each time got super dirty from crawling through every little hole we could find. And there are lots of them! I can't recommend this place enough. Well worth visiting.

Our family (3 boys ages 10, 8, and 3) spent a fun afternoon here, we only had 2 hours to explore, but could have easily spent another hour or two exploring.

We arrived to view the fall leaves. Trails were open. Caves were closed. The trails are well groomed and lovely. The woods and hills wind around the state park and caves. We especially enjoyed the natural bridge. It is a lovely photo op. Restrooms were closed for the season, as were the boardwalks due to storm damage and fallen trees. We enjoyed our fall visit nevertheless. I recommend a visit.

Visited this place with my wife for 1-2 hours and hiked all over. It's a beautiful site and many places to explore. I would recommend bringing clothing you don't mind getting dirty and hiking/waterproof shoes.

We saw a fawn hiking one of the hills and would recommend this place to anyone that likes the outdoors.

Unbelievable place...you must stop to hike the area and enjoy the caves. We didn't do many of the caves, but what we did was just fabulous. We also drove over to the prairie area and walked a little. Beautiful area and lots of walking.

There is no fee to visit the park. It was great way to spend an afternoon. Beautiful scenery and easy hiking. There are about 6 miles of trails and for the most part the trails are easy walking. There are a lot of stairs, the majority of which are wooden and built, some are carved rock or stone.

We've been to the caves now twice since I moved here and we love this park in Iowa!it is so fun to explore and our dogs enjoyed it too! It can get really busy during the spring and summer months but we went on a chilly day in October and pretty much had the whole park to ourselves!

We've got a little piece of heaven right here in Jackson county Iowa. It's beautiful, lots of caves to explore, wild life, and camping. Lots of steps in areas, but it's well maintained. There is also area for picnics and a small play ground. And right up the road is Bluff Lake Catfish farm. Another must do.

Wonderful cool caves both in vibe and temperature. Only did the green caves, meaning those we could walk upright. Signage on the trails could be upgraded.
We missed ice cave and went way out of our way on a very hot day with temps in 90's.

We decided at the last minute to make our first trip here and we had a blast. We walked 6 miles and just enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.

I was in town for a triathlon and thought we would spend an hour at the caves, we ended up spending two afternoons! This place is a gem in midst of corn fields.

The trails are well kept and our three kids (4, 5 and 8) loved exploring the caverns. And being part of the state park system it's free.

Things to know:
*There are a lot of stairs, the boardwalks are in good condition but are wet due to the nature of the site.
*Your going to get dirty. Bring old clothes and have fun.
*There's a 5 minute class everyone has to take about the bat fungus. Rangers are at the trail entrance ready to meet you for the class.

A couple of the caves had electricity, otherwise bring your flashlight. The trails between the caves were also beautiful. Park staff was friendly and informative.

We didn't camp here but the campground is shady and looked well kept.

Can't believe you can just explore these caves on your own! We arrived a couple hours before the park closed for the day so we felt like we had the place to ourselves. there were a couple small groups bit there are several caves so people were spread out. I imagine that if you want on a Saturday at 11 the place would be very crowded. anrong flashlights and wear old clothes and shoes that are good for water. There is also some hiking. We had a great time. Would definitely go back.

Spent the day enjoying this beautiful park. Hiking, exploring beautiful caves, and lovely nature. Muddy but a fantastic adventure!

Love hiking through the park! The caves are mostly wild, with a lot of history. Dancehall cave is really interesting. The entire site is well worth the visit. White nose bat syndrome is a bit of a concern for the local bat populations, so please be aware of that.

A great place and must visit for avid explorers. Plan for at least half day to spend and kids did enjoyed a lot.

There were recommendations to wear old clothes. I am sooooo glad we brought extra shoes, because the main cave had running water we had to wade through to get onto the upper paved sections. We were ankle deep in mud at one section which was tricky to keep your shoes on. We only went to the largest cave. It was a blast! Kids were smiling the whole time. We made our older teen the photographer so he was engaged even while walking around the valley/gully area. There were frogs and snakes in the little streams. What a great time!

Three of us moms and 7 kids, from 3 to 8 years old, had a wonderful day clambering in and out of caves, scaling rocks and wading in freezing water. You can stay on the terrific trail and boardwalk if you want, or be more adventurous by delving into the nooks and crannies. The kids and adults all loved it. I can't believe I've been through Iowa a million times and never knew about this place. We loved it!

The caves are tucked away near the small town of Maquoketa. The park includes about 20 caves and several walking trails that allow you to overlook the scenic area. They tell you that some of the caves are crawling caves- however we only encountered one that truly required crawling, the others could easily be accessed by crouching. The most impressive caves can be found by starting on the north side of the park and going east. Many of the caves have some lighting, but we found it very beneficial to bring along a flashlight and also to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. I would recommend going in the morning before a majority of people show up. The caves are a great way to spend a few fun hours in Iowa. Also- the park is free and runs on free will donations.

We spent one night in the campground. The park is beautiful, but the bathrooms were awful. Unfortunately people visiting the caves use the campground bathroom to wash up, leaving it very dirty and without hot water. We had to wait 1 1/2 hours for an empty shower stall. Some of the toilets were not flushing appropriately and the showers needed some attention. We enjoyed walking the trails and seeing the caves. They have done a very good job of making the trails nice. Many of the trails have wood plank walkways.

The park was nice the caves were fun. There are no trash receptacles by the entrance to hike into the caves so there was trash around. But the worse thing was the showers were utterly disgusting. No one has obviously cleaned them in a very long time!! Beware!

This is a great place for a family with children about 6 to 16. However it is great for all ages, being 65 my wife an I enjoyed it at a slower more careful pace than than the families we saw. We spent about 4 hours an covered most of it. Walking the trails and exploring the caves was great exercise for us. There are many, many steps and even more natural beauty.

Hiking isn't my usual go to for vacations but this was definitely worth a visit. The trails can be a workout at times with steps and terrain but not so much that the average person can't handle. We almost didn't stop because one reviewer said caves 1-10 require crawling. NOT TRUE. You CAN crawl into them if you wish but you can still enjoy seeing them and the trail. The dancehall caves are a must see. They are beautiful and you an easily go into them.

We were in the area and decided to hike the trails. This turned out to be enjoyable. The trails would be very slippery in wet weather as it is not all board walk. The trail we were on was nice but not for any wheel chair. The boardwalk in front of the caves was closed because of tree damage from recent storms I guess. It looks like they had been closed longer though.
We did not camp here but it does look like a nice camping area.

My son and I took a road trip to see the 2017 Eclipse and along the way spent a great couple of hours here on a Saturday morning. The park was easy to find, has great signage both at the parking and on the trails, and was the perfect beginner spelunking experience for him. Early is better...as we left around 11a the parking lot was overflowing with families and groups.

This is one of the nicest parks in the midwest. Clean, great trails, friendly rangers, good parking and excellent small caves. The creek and forest are beautiful and the wooden walkways to the caves are lovely. Bring your camera and old clothes because the caves are authentic and natural (water and dirt). It is a first rate experience.

Maquoketa Caves State Park is one of the most unique places that I have ever visited. Even without the caves, this would be a beautiful place - lots of trees, wildflowers, hills, rock outcroppings, a pretty creek and pleasant trails. What makes this state park so special is the chance to explore the caves. There are about 15 caves listed on the park map. This is nothing like "show" caves that you may have visited; there is no guide turning on lights and pointing out interesting formations. You are on your own here, free to discover the beauty of this underground world.
Make sure to wear old clothes and shoes since you'll be down on your hands and knees, flat on your stomach or back, inching your way in to see what lies in those dark holes. Bring flashlights, or better yet headlamps so that your hands will be free. It wouldn't hurt to have some knee pads and gloves too. If getting down on your belly in the mud doesn't appeal to you, take a walk through the huge Dance Hall Cave; you can remain vertical through this one, and there are overhead lights to help you see. Wide Mouth Cave was one of my favorites. A wide opening led to a smaller area where my husband and I sat for a long time in the cool cave, no lights, no sounds, no other people, just perfect peace. Another favorite was Barbell Cave. The opening of this cave sits high off the ground, and the rock is almost completely smooth from all the folks who have entered, so it was a little challenging to enter. From there, we crawled through a tight space to a larger area where you have enough room to sit down. A small opening leads to a larger chamber where you might even be able to stand. We really enjoyed the chamber above the Middle Dance Hall entrance, where we were able to climb up and look down on our fellow hikers without them seeing us. The Natural Bridge and Balanced Rock are good spots for photos.
There is a small visitor center near the entrance to the park, with some interesting displays. Before setting off on the trails, visitors need to listen to a short talk about white nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of bats in the United States. If you have been in other caves, your clothing, shoes, and all equipment needs to be thoroughly disinfected before entering the Maquoketa caves in order to prevent the spread of this disease.
Entrance to the park is free. Make sure to check the park website for closures; this year the caves close beginning October 15 for bat hibernation.

This place is very cool but look at the map because it is confusing how the park is set up. There are 16 caves to walk through. Be sure to wear clothing that is light and comfortable and things that u don't mind getting wet or dirty. Make sure that you bring plenty of water and a flashlight to see. Might be nice to have a guide to make paths less confusing.

My son-in-law and grandsons love hiking. They absolutely loved the caves and probably could have spent days there. Unfortunately for them it was a quick stop off on our way to Dubuque. Must admit they are fascinating caves with twists and turns. My daughter and I took a short path but decided to leave the serious cave exploration to the boys. Their only regret is that they didn't have enough time to explore.

Easy and fun hike thru the caves. Plenty of parking too. This was an easy find but expect to get your vehicle pretty dusty.
Well worth taking the time for a few hours to explore this park.

Perfect setting especially when you travel with little boys. Crawling in caves? Camping? They all love it, small or big!

Wow super fun place to explore! coolest cave park we've been to explore as you please. Many acres for exploring and hiking. Family friendly.

My husband and I spent 2 hours visiting this park. We found all but 3 caves, however, only three of them are big enough to go in. (Unless you like belly crawling into tight spaces!) We plan on bringing our kids back in a few years once they are all in elementary school. The paths are nice. Barely muddy and we went after a morning of rain. They can be slippery. The map is easy to use after you have been there for a while. At first it is a little over whelming. I recommend wearing old clothes and taking a flashlight. It is free but they do take donations! Go early in the morning. Dancehall Cave is empty...by 11 it was very busy.

When we came to Maquoketa Caves it was a perfect day for some cave exploring. There wasn't a lot of people at the park, which is always an advantage. We went to at least 7 of the caves and crawled around for a while. It was a blast getting "cave mud" all over ourselves.

Unbeknownst to many Iowans is a little slice of heaven right under our noses. I feel guilty living in Iowa for years and not visiting til now. But now I'm telling everyone that for a day of adventure you only have to drive as far as Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Just a short distance off highway Y31 is the parking lot. Back up the hill is the park office. On one side of the parking lot is a large set of reader boards describing the park and trails, also nearby is a picnic circle. Across the road are restrooms and at the far end of the wooden structure is a box with trail maps. If you don't have a trail map, you may want to take a picture of the map so you can refer to it later. Trust me you will be referring to it a lot. The highlight of the park, (Middle) Dancehall cave is just down and to the left ( south ) of the parking lot. What a fantastic start to a few hours of adventure. The trails are easy to follow and in most cases wooden walkways and staircases lead you to each cave. Thank you Iowa for making everything so accessible. The woods, bluffs, rock formations and caves are so dramatic in their beauty it is impossible to capture it on camera. This park has to be seen in person to appreciate it fully. Most caves are small so that entry is either by crawling or just viewed from the entrance. Because of this a powerful flashlight is very helpful. A few backups are a good idea or extra batteries. I do recommend crawling into some to experience what real spelunkers enjoy doing. At the end of your day you will say, I can't believe how beautiful this place is. And it is all free.
So wear older shoes, jeans, and shirt. Maybe bring an extra of each if you are stopping anywhere on the way home. If you really plan in advance take gloves, knee pads and a pack a picnic lunch. Besides Dancehall my favorites were the Ice cave and Wide Mouth cave. But check them all out. They are all relatively close. So close that I wouldn't say you are actually hiking but going on an adventure walk. Our group ranged in age from 8 to 60 and we all loved the park.This day will be one you long remember.

Very pretty park; there is one cave you can enter on one side and exit on the other. You must bend down in some areas.

This is a great Park for outdoor activities. Roads are good. Lots of camping spots. The park is best for those that want to explore nature, hike and general enjoy the outdoors. You can remain active here all day long. Worth visiting but would not recommend for a long stay or a week or longer.

Had a great day at the park caves were beautiful, enjoyed a nice picnic lunch. Park was clean and staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend taking flashlights and kneepads. Look forward to going back soon.

Loved the fact that unlike broke Illinois, Iowa actually has DNR staff on site. The caves are great and the park well taken care of. Be prepared if you are over about 5'8 there is some major ducking to get into the largest cave. at 6'6 it was difficult for me but once inside there is plenty of room. Take a head lamp for best viewing. Also this time of year be ready for mouthy loud teens... but this isn't the fault of the park or DNR.

Kids friendly, great hiking in wilderness, saw couple of deers, turtles. Caves are awesome. Take flashlights. Lots of foliage.

I am from out of town and decided to spend the time here with a friend. Very nice hikes and the caves were also a lot of fun.

My wife and I visited this past Saturday, arriving just after 9am. It was easy to find, taking Caves Rd, just off of hwy 61. This was my first visit to MCSP. It had rained the night before, so hiking at times was very slippery and some times very muddy. We were wearing good soled hiking shoes, so we did not have a big problem getting around. It would have been somewhat dangerous hiking in tennis shoes on this day. I enjoyed the caves, but did not think to bring a flashlight or headlamp to snoop around a bit in some of the caves. Next time. We did hike quite a few miles of trails, but did not make it to the prairie end of the park and the Upland Prairie foot trail. Also next time. There are many easy trails to hike, but there are also several strenuous sections of the trail too. Lots of stair climbing and some rock hopping too. Again, on this day it was very slippery in spots. I really enjoyed the MCSP and look forward to returning. This time with a flashlight.

I used to go here frequently as a kid but it's been many years. The park is still just as fun as an adult. There are hiking trails and of course the caves are the main attraction. While the main cave is easily accessible the most fun is getting dirty exploring the smaller, more difficult caves. Be sure to bring you own flashlight and water is a good idea too. The hiking trails are well groomed but poorly marked. Even with a map, we were lost for well over an hour trying to find a particular cave. There are some signs along the trail but we didn't find then entirely helpful and did not help us "find" where we were. All in all a great day to get outside and enjoy nature, both for kids of the kids inside of you.

Great place to stay. Campground is excellent, quiet, friendly people and great facilities. Campfire wood available for a donation. No bugs! DON'T LEAVE YOUR BREAD ON YOUR PICNIC TABLE AT NIGHT, OR A FURRY THIEF MAY MAKE IT DISAPPEAR! You will need a reservation to stay here as it not a huge campground. Lots of trails and caves to explore if you want. Very scenic. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

We have been there twice in the past month, once in August and once in September now and loved it. The latter was during Labor Day weekend so it was quite busy and very hot that day. Temperatures were in the 90's and high humidity, so sweating was not an option, but mandatory. However this place will be visited again, it is beautiful!

We had a great time here. Great place for kids. Be sure the wear old clothes that you can throw away. Take advantage of the opportunity and crawl through everything. A jewel in the middle of Iowa. Pack snacks and take water with you. Towels/rags to clean up afterwards and a clean pair of shoes. The only reason I didn't give it a rating of 5 is that the trail markers are less than adequate.

be ready to hike and climb! beautiful and definitely worth a few hours. our park ranger was even carrying around a little passenger around his neck-a snake native to the area.

Having lived in Iowa all my life, I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place. It's very beautiful with trees, trails, and caves of varying sizes. The most impressive cave is the Dancehall cave. The upper entrance for it requires ducking down to get through the first bit, but you can stand up and walk normally for the rest of it. The walkway is paved or paved stones for it, but you're walking along next to water. I wore old tennis shoes, but kinda wish I would have worn rubber boots. Definitely bring a flashlight and water bottles. A bunch of printouts of maps were on the table by the restrooms, although the map isn't the most helpful. Restrooms with flushable toilets are available, but are the type typical of state parks, and a bit rustic for my preference. I'd recommend instead to head a few miles down the road to Casey's in Maquoketa, as they had a really nice, clean restroom. I think we spent a total of two hours at the park, but if you fully hike all the trails, you could easily spend more time. Great fun and surprisingly wonderful scenery, for free!

Beautiful park. Traveled from the Western burbs of Chicago. Easy drive, amazing caves, good time had by all. Kids (age 7, 5, 3) able to enjoy both the lower and upper ridge trails.

We live near the caves and visit often and are never disappointed by the park. We always find a fun trail to follow or cave to explore. It's a great place to camp, have a gathering or reunion, a picnic, or a day of exploring.

We stumbled upon this park when driving to a different destination, and did a little bit of exploring the next day, in the daylight hours. What a find - well worth a return trip for further exploration. We did not have a change of clothing along, so we did not go too far into the caves.

This is a FREE state park that offers plenty of trails to a variety of caves and look outs. Can't wait to share this gem with others. Remember to dress comfortable and bring a flashlight if you want to explore some of the caves.

What a beautiful spot! We planned a day hike here, as our eldest son (16) is a cave nut. It felt like we were in Rivendell or Endor! Hiked for 3 hours, but could have easily stayed all day... Be sure to wear old shoes and knee pads for those who want to crawl in!

What a gem!!! We stayed in the campground for a few days and absolutely loved it!. The spaces were easy to navigate (26' trailer), the campground was clean, plenty of firewood available. Good spacing inbetween camp sites. Georgeous scenery. The clean out station actually ran downhill! (that's not necessarily true at all campgrounds)!! The caves are SPECTACULAR. The hiking is not for the faint of heart. Pleanty of up and down, over rocks, etc. So worth the adventure! Lots to do in the area as well. We went to Tabor winery and the view was fabulous. Well worth the trip!

I had no idea, so glad we went. We enjoyed exploring numerous caves suitable for young and old with plenty of picture taking opportunities. Free and plenty of parking. Caves can be wet and muddy so dress appropriately. Flashlights are a must, bug spray, water, snacks. We will go back.

I live about 3 and a half hours away and have been wanting to visit the caves for years. I was blown away by the location! The descriptions I have read online do not do this place justice. There are many cave to see and one that you can walk through into an area with a creek and bluffs on both sides. We went in April and the green moss on the rocks, glistening river, and small white flowers reminded me of a fairyland. I will definitely be returning!

While at home in the UK and planning my trip to Iowa I saw this place marked on the State map. I decided that this was worth a visit and I am very glad that I came. The young lady at the visitors was extremely helpful and explained how to get the best out going into the caves. Going down into the caves was an exciting experience, especially having to bend nearly double to get through in places (I am well over 6 feet). The various trails through the woodland areas in the deep valley was another unique part of the visit. I was also surprised to see a small hummingbird feeding from one of the food containers at the centre. The countryside around the caves is very beautiful and is in marked contrast to the flatter and open plains of much of the central parts of the State that you drive through. It was well the drive from Cedar Rapids. It is marvellous that no entrance fee is required and that we can make a donation.

We were not expecting to find NO services at all. Bathrooms locked up, no staff around, Nobody to help, Not impressed by this park ... poor planning overall .

When visiting the caves in my youth, trampling up and down the long stairways was a breeze. Now that youth has left me the old adage "one step at a time" clearly is the current motto. The beauty of this site is always a reminder that the world of nature is a great escape from daily routine and with each visit I find something new that I missed before. Once you arrive you will be impressed with the natural cave formations and the vegetation. We even saw wild Columbine growing out of the rocks which I had not notice previously. CAUTION - Please use your GPS to guide you here as the signs providing direction are few and far between. If you wish to crawl into the tight spots wear clothing that you have no difficulties in tossing away later as a "muddy mess" with tears and rips you will become. Also, please respect the need to frequently wipe your shoes off on the green mats located throughout the park frequently so as to prevent further threats to the brown bats that call these caves their home.

I'd recommend grubby shoes, long pants & flashlights. Also taking a change of clothes if you like to explore. There's only a couple caves to walk thru, the rest are crawling (or belly crawling) exploring. There's lots a nature hiking thru the forrest area.
We took a picnic lunch, explored in morning then went back to main area for a restroom & lunch break. It was a a fun day!

We had such a great time with the family hiking and looking at the caves. The only thing I could think that they could improve on is more bathrooms and picnic areas for families to enjoy lunch. We went we it was raining and still enjoyed ourselves.

This if it is a hidden gem, great place to spend a good time exploring the different caverns, wear dirty clothes and a good lantern, eye out in the forest, there are three plants that you should pay attention to, but if you carry children, one of them poison grass... another important point is to stay careful of orientation, it is easy to get lost, wear comfortable shoes and for outdors, with some tennis, especially flat sole, it is easy to skate

We camped for three nights in the park. The bathrooms were not clean when we arrived and had not been tended to even once before we left.
The hikes are a nice change from the typical Iowa landscape. If you are physically fit, it won't take more than one day to see everything.

Beautiful area. Visitor Center was closed when we visited, but we had a trail map on our phone. Navigating the trails and caves were not well marked, but we think we found them all. Found many deer and wild flowers too.

Absolutely beautiful! Well worth the trip. We only did half of it and still spent about 3 hours there. It’s so majestic and peaceful. There are a few spots where it seems like fairies or hobbits should be flying/walking about.

There are 14 caves to hike and explore to. Make sure you have hiking shoes as some area are slippery and wet. And put on bug spray! But it's really cool. Very shady areas and the trails are to all different levels of accessibility. There is also a campground. Well worth it!

Never expected to find such a fantastic place in Iowa but so very glad to stumble upon it. So there are about 15 caves that you can explore, and we are NOT talking about some dinky / shallow / hole in the wall. The biggest cave - Dance Hall is actually huge with all the rest much much smaller but most of the caves are serious stuff for us semi-adventure seeking, amateur spelunker wannabes.
You really have to be prepared to get dirty, wet, and crawl through some tight places. And be ready to face spiders, darkness, and enclosed spaces to have some fun. There are couple points with even some technical challenges (for us wannabes) as to how to go through. Couple tips is to bring some headlamps, gloves / shoes with traction, and elbow pads (forget kneepads, there's only enough room for belly crawl) otherwise it's probably consider easy. Maybe also go early in the day or late in the season -- we were pretty luck though parking lots were full and decent number of people on the trails but we hardly had to wait.

We based our visit on the unique name when we were looking for a B&B in that area of Iowa. (Squire's Manor B&B is well woth a different Review!!) The park is beautiful & most of the visitors were well equipped with hiking shoes, flashlights, water...we were not. But we did enjoy walking through a couple of the caves that were easily accessible. Next visit, we will come prepared. Great place to take the kids for an adventurous hiking day!

I come here every year and go camping! I love all the caves and the nooks and crannies to go through. The walk is long but peaceful and the views are AMAZING!

I wish we had arrived earlier for this hike! We entered through dancehall cave and when we emerged an hour or so later we learned we were in a tornado warning and all hikers and guests were being sent into that cave for safety. Beautiful, serene and a great family adventure. Not for those in poor physical condition or with limitations as there is a lot of stooping over, uneven footing and slippery surfaces. We loved it!

Campground is very well shaded and level spots but is somewhat small and large units will have difficulty getting in/out. Most of sights are very suited for tents as we noted many sights were tent campers. The grounds themselves are fairly well kept but I think since it's so early In season there is some upkeep needed. Most State parks lack in this area due to budget issues I feel.

We explored the caves of course which was an exciting adventure. Great walking trails lead to all the caves here. Some caves are crawl spaces only and if you are serious about exploring I highly recommend old shoes head lamps or flashlights. If you want to go all out bring a helmet for caving and wear knee pads. Huge bonus for getting back into the smaller cave areas.

Maquoketa Caves is a great geological adventure and allows families to explore the great outdoors.

Camping here is excellent and quite

Just took grandchildren to the caves for the first time. They were wild about them and want to return as soon as possible. Take along extra clothes and towed to clean them up after and let them go. What an adventure and nobody said anything about how dirty they got. Glad to see the caves are open again.

My wife, myself, and also our 9,6, and 3 yr olds all had a blast here. We spent about 5 hrs at the caves in total. Roughly 4hrs in the caves and trails and 1 hr picnic break in the middle. We saw about 80% of the park. Our dog came with and also enjoyed it. YOU WILL GET MUDDY. We brought old shoes and clothes and didnt think twice about it. The last minute little flashlight was a nice addition. Bring water you will need some. Bathrooms were clean. Trails were clean and very walkable. We will definitely be going back this time to camp as well.

Great park for everyone. Whether you want to take a leisurely walk through the larger caves or get dirty and explore the smaller ones. You could easily spend several hours here. Make sure to stop and get your wristband first before heading out on the trails.

Unique, interesting and small park to which I'll certainly return. There are a lot of trails and on the map or on the trail they're not marked all that well. It doesn't really matter, just keep walking as they all wind back around to main center point.

The park has some nice hiking trails and many caves. The trails aren't very long though and most of the caves are not very big, however, the Dance Hall is amazing. We didn't have flashlights and we weren't really dressed for spelunking so we didn't venture into the many small, tight caves. Despite there only being a few miles of total trails they were very nice trails. There is a campground in the park but we did not stay there. The visitor's center is only open of weekends, despite what Google says, but there are pamphlets and maps available, as well as park personnel on duty, everyday. The park is definitely worth a visit!

I went out to the caves with my business partner to get some photos, I must say it was well worth the drive! It was breathtaking for me and I got some awesome photos... the tour guides were super nice and very helpful when it came to giving us info on how to get through the caves, its a great place to take the entire family be sure to wear jeans nothing to new because you may get a little dirty and I would take some repellent for any type of bugs. You do have to pay a fee to get in I believe $8-10 but don't hold me to that lol! it would also be helpful to bring flashlights if not you'll have to go and buy some from them I believe. I am planning to visit there again to see the rest of the caves! I highly recommend for a family outing!

Surprisingly there was no entrance fee to enjoy the caves. This is a very interesting local geological feature. There are several caves that are fun to explore, with hiking trails to enjoy the outdoors. We were here in autumn and the fall colors were delightful. We will return for another visit.

This was quite a beautiful park. We were there on a nice Saturday in mid-April with about 70 degree weather, so that was perfect. The whole floor of the valley in between the two sides of the main cliff area was just covered with little emerging flowers.
After we parked, we went through the big cave that runs right under the parking lot area. We had to bend down to walk through the first 50 yards or so, but after that, I was able to stand up the rest of the way through. It was pretty neat.
After that, all the caves were considerably smaller. My wife and I were prepared to get dirty, but we never did have to get muddy.
I think you could have a great day hiking this park without ever going into any caves. The park could be called Maquoketa Caves and Trails so that older people afraid of the caves or mud know that you can do some wonderful hiking here without ever getting into a cave.
We did see groups of college aged kids with knee and elbow pads and helmets with lights on them, and those kids squeezed into tiny tunnels that I would have never dreamed of gong into.
So, I really think this park can appeal to people of all ages, as long as you are able to climb up steps and trails. So, you need to be in at least fair physical shape. (We're mid 50's.)
The views from both the tops and bottoms of the canyons were quite beautiful.
We spent about 2 hours walking and climbing stairs.
And, there was a whole other side of the entry area that we didn't even get to.
Also, it was fairly dry when we were there. After a big rain, there would likely be some challenges that we didn't have to deal with.
Beautiful place!!
For Illinoisans, it reminded me of Starved Rock and Matthieson.
Also, it was FREE!
For a family from out of state, you might want to notice that it is approximately an hour from Field of Dreams.
Anyway, we had a great day at Maquoketa Caves. BEAUTIFUL!!!

We were camping up the road and figured we'd check out the caves. We weren't disappointed. There were great fun. There are two directions to go went on the side with all the stairs.

The first cave is enormous and easy the walk. There is decking and stone blocks to walk on. The cave is also well lit.

Take some time and enjoy the wonderful site.

Bring water, flashlight or headlight. Your shoes will get wet and muddy.

Absolutely beautiful! Caves were awe inspired. The worst thing was it is alot of stair going down and back up...still worth it!

Maquoketa Caves State Park was a great place to go for hiking and getting out to see some caves. We didn't have a flashlight or caving gear so we didn't go in the smaller caves, but we had a good time just walking around. The Park itself was beautiful! My only complaint is the map is very confusing and the trail wasn't well marked. I'd definitely go back!

We went to Maquoketa Caves for my husbands birthday in May. The Caves are great and really neat to see. My 6 year old step son loved watching the bats fly around the caves and enjoyed the adventure that the caves brought. Going inside the caves is a must in order to get the real experience and they are definitely worth seeing.
The trails on the other hand are a bit different and if your not careful its easy to get away from where you want to be. We ended up taking off on a trail that landed us way behind the park. Instead of taking the trail back due to the up hill walk we would of had to take we ended up walking all the way around the outside of the park. I would suggest that all visitors stop and pick up maps of the park before taking off on any trail adventures.

We went for a quick day trip to hike and had a great time. We were able to go into some of the caves that were more accessible since we had our two young kids in tow. We can't wait to go back without our kids to really explore some of the caves further.

Such an amazing experience! When we went, the waters were high and we got our feet all wet. You might want to bring spare shoes and socks if it's rained recently.

We truly enjoyed our visit to the caves! There were so many trails and so much do do that we made a day of it! Our favorite cave was the ballroom caves since they were so elaborate and we could walk through them over and over. The rest of the caves you sort of have to use your detective skills for. Every cave/feature is labeled, but if you're not paying attention you could easily walk past a small cave. This was genuinely a fun trip for us! As a bat fanatic, I was a little disappointed to not see any bats, but there are many other wildlife to see here! This was a spot we hope to visit again. Very green, natural, and truly a sight to see.

Wonderful way to spend a day!

Lived in Iowa for 20+ yrs. Moved away in 1997 and had never heard of this park. Returned this past week to visit and discovered this well kept secret (at least to me!). Spent several hours exploring and enjoying the quiet!

Busy place on a week day, but not overly crowded.

No entrance fee.

Restrooms could use some attention. Could not locate a single trash can even in the restroom.

A few picnic tables available, but limited.

We brought our dog with us. Bring a towel to clean the pooch at the end of your day. They will have fun, but likely end the day dirty after climbing in the caves and splashing thru some creeks.

Definitely worth an afternoon visit. Hiking is not difficult and could be done by kids. Lots of steps, though, to get down to the caves and the trails. May not be an option for a senior or someone with mobility issues.

Went on a perfect spring day this April. Gorgeous wildlife, from creeks to caves to deer to cliffs. We made sure to go into every cave and had a blast. So beautiful. I wouldn't recommend it to those who get winded easily or who are greatly afraid of heights.

This is a very nice park. There are many paths to walk but some are not marked well, my only complaint. ( print a map to bring with you, when we got there no one was there with maps. Later we were able to get one) The cave- most of them are small holes, so if you don't mind getting dirty.. But there are some you can walk through. We were able to see all of them plus eat lunch in about 6 hours. Did I say it's a free park. They do have a very nice camping area there too.

The last couple of times I have gone here this park has had its caves closed or off-limits to help secure the bat population. "White nose disease" is what the ranger at the park office told me. They have you watch a ten minute video then you are free to explore a few of the bigger caves and the trails are open always. You get to see many of the floral and fauna of the area.
The park has over 300 acres available and there is camping allowed on site. Once you are allowed to actually spelunk, its at its best; many caves are just big enough for you to crawl around but I would make sure that you are qualified to go caving. Make sure you wear the proper gear and get ready to get muddy! Good, ole fashion fun and a great day hike.

I want to start by saying this is the first caves my family have ever visited so we have nothing to compare this to. That being said we had a great time exploring these caves. My wife, I and my two boys 8 & 6 had a blast getting dirty and hiking through the caves and around the grounds. Some of the caves you walk through and others you have to crawl through. There were a few of the crawl caves that you could crouch and still go at least part of the way in and stand once you are in just a short way. If you decide to crouch your way into the crawl caves you will need a flashlight and watch so you don’t bump your head. I can’t remember which two crawl caves we went into all I remember is they were higher numbered and you could tell by the entrance that you could crouch your way in. We were lucky enough to have a friend warn us to wear old clothes and bring a change of clothes. We went after a few days of heavy rain and we got muddy. As we were leaving there was a lady that was walking towards the caves with brand new white shoes on, all I could think was those shoes will not be so white after this.

We had a great time exploring this park—two adults and a teen, and we all loved it! The caves are super cool and unique. Some are small/crawling only, which we skipped (not that brave!), but there are plenty you can walk through and enjoy. The park is completely free, which is incredible.

Tips: wear good walking shoes and expect wet feet. If you have trouble with balance or mobility, it may be a little tricky. We went early in the morning, which was perfect—by the time we were leaving, lots of youth groups were arriving. Staff were friendly, nature was gorgeous, and overall this was an amazing stop. Highly recommend!

The park was nice and well maintained. Great place to picnic and spend the day. Note:
- parking is limited
- some of the trails are steep.
Recommend:
- trekking poles. The wont be needed all the time but there are parts that are slippery and steep.
- Hat
- Bug Spray
Only few negatives - Some trails are not well documented and some of the campsites were tiny.
Would I go again - YES

This was the highlight of our Eastern Iowa trip last week. If you want to explore caves and get a good workout, stop here. Beautiful area! And it’s not commercialized!

Fantastic place to hike. Great trails and beautiful scenery. We visited midweek and arrived at the park early, so didn’t stop at the visitor center. Maps were available at the shelter across from the large park map signs. Modern restroom was further up the road by another shelter closer to the campground. If you like outdoor adventures GO HERE! You will enjoy yourself. It was free but we saw a sign about permit to hike the caves. We didn’t see anywhere to get a permit but may have arrived before staff were there to explain where/how to obtain a permit.

Best Caves I have been to.
Thanks to trip advisor and being an avid hiker, we knew to bring hiking boots, flash lights, and gloves. The caves are amazing, be prepared to get dirty, wear dark colored clothing, and get down and dirty to get the full effect of exploring. All the caves are not created equal, some are larger then others. We didn't seen any bats or we were to busy exploring.
Things to bring~
-camera
-bug spray
-SPF
-flash light (head strap flash lights are BEST Walmart has them from $5-25)
-Water
-power bars
-wet wipes
-change of clothes
-lunch for a picnic
We drove 3 1/2 hours from Chicago and it was Totally worth it, then we hit up the Field Of Dreams 50 min away

Our first camp trip in 2020 to an Iowa State Park. Aside from the caves and trails which make this park popular, the campground is equally as good with sites that are nestled into natural preserves. We had a level, graded electric site, a brand new picnic table with sufficient space for our 18' trailer. Sites are reasonably spread out affording campers a degree of solitude and privacy.

With mandated Covid restrictions, access to restrooms and bathhouses was limited, requiring all campers to have self-contained units. Access to water, and dumping stations were available. The friendly park rangers frequently patrolled the area and stopped to greet or chat with the campers while on foot or in their vehicles. Firewood was available on a cart with voluntary donations for wood consumed.

Overall a wonderful experience and look forward to returning.

If you love caves you'll love to visit Maquoketa caves! The hiking trails are also a blast with beautiful scenery all along the way! I visit these caves once or twice a summer!

Took the grandkids for an afternoon adventure thru the caves, it was alot of fun for them.. nice picnic area ,but lots of walking and stairs.

This is a beautiful location. The hiking was good but hard. Make sure you take your time and bring a flash light and water.

I went last fall, we were about the only people there, had a wonderful walk around the caves and the woods, I would love to go back anytime! By far the only thing that I am happy to remember from my trip to Iowa! Just beautiful. Not to mention, the caves are great for amplifying the volume of Rain Song on my cell phone :)

We've been having a family reunion at the park for 30 years. We rented a pavilion and it was not clean. The floor probably has never been hosed off. Tree stumps were unearthed and left right next to the pavilion tempting the children to climb on them and get hurt and several adults stumbled over the uneven ground.
The adjacent rest rooms were "under construction" of which we were not informed of before our arrival. A Porta Potty would have been a nice alternative to driving to the campground restroom or hiking and climbing many stairs to the lower rest rooms. The other pavilion was empty and would have been a lot closer for us to use the camp site restrooms.
An simply email would have been nice to inform us of the disarray of this area.
We are going to find an alternative location for our next family reunion.

What a surprise, even after reading so many positive reviews, it was more than we expected. We were greeted at the park with a few quick instructions to protect the bats, provided a map and pointed to the caves that you don't have to crawl in. The kids (age 12) both LOVED the hike and the caves. It is a good idea to wear an old pair of shoes and bring a fresh pair. We took inexpensive head lamps that worked great. If you'd like to try the smaller caves it would be good to take knee pads, bike helmets, and a pair of gloves. The caves can get you turned around on the map, orient yourself along the creek. Three hours passed very quickly.

I brought my family (including a little dog) for an late-summer afternoon at the caves. The ranger was helpful and had good details. We did not prep (normal clothes, no helmets and had only cell phone lights), but still had fun exploring.

The only drawback of the park was its popularity. The canyons magnified the voices of exuberant visitors. The unattended youth groups were annoying. I was worried that one group was going to start reenacting scenes from the Lord of the Flies.

Nice hiking paths and caves. Some of the caves are closed for bat hibernation, but there are still many to look at. We enjoyed the fall colours just starting

I was incredibly amazed by the caves. My kids really enjoyed it ages 9 and 6. Now the facility needs some upgrades we camped here for 3 days, and the showers and bathrooms need some upgrades.

Gorgeous campground, fun activities, beautiful trees and flowers and spacious. The caves were also amazing and a fun adventure. Friendly and busy place that is well kept. I will be back!

Run, don't walk to this little gem in Iowa. I wasn't sure what to expect but we spent about 4 hours here exploring....and only saw about half of the park. Agreed that the maps weren't the best and the signage was lacking, but we had a great time anyway. Some of the trails are not for the faint of heart! If it had rained recently this would be a very muddy hike, as others had mentioned. The dance hall cave was so very awesome. We went into the ice cave as well but only hiked by some of the others. Great place to explore!!

It was a cold and gray day and the caves were even colder; but WOW anyways! We got to walk through an see the dance hall where people from the Victorian era had parties. It is in an actual cave. We also hiked through the park. Many of the caves were already closed due to bat hibernation. Highly reccommend. Especially on a sunny day.

Loved the caves and the hike. Only complaints are the lack of parking and the spiders in the bathrooms! Definitely a great free outdoor activity

Took the kids here when camping near by. Fabulous place, we all loved it. The valley was super humid for this family from the arid west and everything was slippery mud. But if you go with the mindset that you're going to get dirty, all will be fine. Flashlights are essential unless you're in the one main cave which is lit. And somehow...it was free! Can't remember the last time I saw a state park that was free.

We drove from Clinton and spent around half a day here. We did a section of the Dancehall Trail, the Caves Trail, and the Ridge Trail on the north side of the main road, and portions of the Dancehall South Trail and Valley Trail on the south side. On the last Friday in September it was quite crowded - apparently it was screaming kids field trip day, so we observed many of the caves from a bit of a distance rather than being among crowds of excited kids. The grounds are very nice and the trails very navigable.

Be sure to stop at the great winery as you head back to Maquoketa!

This is a really nice park. Lots to do in terms of hiking and spelunking. There is one large cave complex that has a paved walkway through it, then a series of trails that takes you to smaller caves. The area is well maintained and clean and the hiking is not particularly challenging.

The campground is small but very nice... and VERY popular. It took 3 or 4 attempts to actually get a site. Nice wooded lots.

Quiet times are NOT enforced... so make sure you are mindful when choosing a site. We set up across the road from a camper site with about 30 chairs set up around a campfire ring.... .yeah... BAD idea. Large group of very loud, obnoxious people with rowdy kids.... they were loud WAY past midnight... music, yelling, boisterous laughing.. etc..... I know they were just having fun, but when you have a 5 year old you want to put to sleep before 1 am, it was a little annoying. Park states quiet times are 10:00 AM to 6:00 AM.... not enforced. Oh.. and the kicker? At 5:30 AM, a garbage truck went through the park to empty dumpsters... loud backup beepers and all... it was pretty stupid.

We might try this place again... but will be VERY careful of our site selection. :)

I visited the site with a group of friends, and the day was radical.
The park has numerous caves of various sizes, from large caves even small caves where you have to crawl.
It's a great place to enjoy the weekend, until even with children.
I recommend the place, especially for those seeking contact with nature but not necessarily quiet.

Fall color weekend. From Wisconsin, our peak colors were over, so we headed south. We love the Mississippi River Valley area and made Moline IL our home base. Among our daily adventures, we found this Iowa state park that peaked our interest. Our group of 4 ranges in age from 60 to 80, so trails need to be reasonable. There are some steep climbs and rocky uneven surfaces. We took it slow, rested and helped each other when needed. The rock formation and open caves were well worth the efforts. Being a weekday made this a tranquil hike. Only a few others crossed our path. Two of us went on an additional hike after a picnic lunch for more caves and lots of stairs. A very cool place to visit for couples, families, or small groups. It's definitely not handicap accessible

LOVE this park! My family had been coming here for generations. Park Rangers are knowledgeable and there are caves for all levels of explorers, from the more passive to the rugged and bold who like to get muddy and dirty. -But if you do like to get dirty bring an extra change of clothes! A favorite destination for all the kids in our family and a great way to get them outdoors and in touch with nature.

This is a beautiful park with enjoyable trails. You would need to watch young children. Every season has its own unique beauty.

My wife has wanted to see these caves for a while. I had no idea there were such beautiful caves here. Lived in Iowa for almost 20 years now and had never heard of them. We went for a weekend getaway for our anniversary..one of many stops. WOW. It was so much fun. I wish we had brought a flashlight, but did download one to my phone. Still, If you plan ahead, bring older tennis shoes and jeans--bottle water(s) and flashlights...gloves too if you plan on going into the "CRAWL THRU " cave. We plan on bringing the kids here in early October for a day of fun! And---It's free!

We camped here before attending a show at Codfish Hollow. It was great! Quiet campground with nice facilities. The caves are of course the prize of this park. The largest cave has a nice cement path and the others are fairly easy to access. What a gem hidden within the state of Iowa!!!! Would be an excellent day trip!

Simply put, just go. The place is LOVELY, the caves are cool, you can go ANYWHERE in the park including into the deepest reaches of any cave you can crawl into.

FUN STUFF!

You won't see all the lovely "artwork" of protected caves, these caves were stripped of their flowstones, big stilags and other features long before it was a park... there are new ones growing so be careful and watch out for them.

Ruff start to the day. GPS said to turn onto a gravel road. Then onto a dirt road. The dirt road had a sign that said "Warning unmaintained road" DO NOT TAKE! It was not fit for a covered wagon. When I did pull into the park, the ranger saw that I came in the wrong way. She looked at me and smiled, saying "you used GPS" There is a brief talking to about bat health, in order to enter the caves. Nothing to worry about.The caves were great fun. An easy walk for the big caves. If your looking for more of a hike, Its beautiful there. Great even for small kids. I will go again!

Great for Photography, wear hiking boots or very good footgear for traction....Very Beautiful Caves to hike through and smaller Caves to explore all along a stream and forested hills...

Just visited this park over the Labor Day weekend… Cannot believe my husband and I have both lived in Iowa all our lives and never been here!
Took our 2 teenage girls and canped 1/2 hour away in Dubuque since the very small campground there was full already a couple months before when we tried to book the trip.

We loved that it was all self-guided… No long, guided tours to follow. Everything was so easily accessible it made it the perfect weekend trip.
I am glad we went on Saturday the first time we went through the caves, because when we tried to go back on Sunday of the holiday weekend it was three times busier !!! So if you are going over a holiday weekend, our suggestion would be to try to hit the park early on a Friday or Saturday… Skip Sunday and Monday
The entire area around the park and around Dubuque where we stayed was absolutely gorgeous!

This is a state park filled with caves of various sizes. The largest one, Dancehall, is lighted and you can walk through it standing up. Others are much smaller, and it's necessary to crawl or even Army crawl on your stomach in some places.
We spent 4 days here and camped in the small but nicely shaded campground in a large and level site. Be sure you make reservations if you want a spot with electricity.
Here's what you need to know before you go. You're going to get really dirty if you explore much at all, so old clothes and shoes are a must. I recommend water sandals with toe caps so you can walk in the water and on trails which have plenty of rock and root. Some places are pretty slippery. You'll need a good flashlight with extra batteries if you go deep into the smaller caves which are dark as pitch. I recommend a headlight type flashlight to keep your hands free for crawling. There are lots of stairs on the main trails, so you need to be in reasonably good shape to enjoy this park. It can be crowded during peak season in the summer. Caves are closed in the fall to allow bats to hibernate
I loved this place but I can't give it an excellent rating because the maps they give out are terrible and confusing. Also no info is on the map about how far caves go and what to expect. We got most of our good information by talking to people who had been here before, so keep your ears open and try to locate a local "expert". The visitor center is only open on weekends, which is odd for such a popular park at peak season.

We had the park almost to ourselves in early May. The caves were very cool and the spring flowers amazing. It was difficult finding all the caves with the parks trail map since it did not include the creek we were following and there were a lot of undesignated side trails. Saw red headed woodpecker, rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanager, hummingbird, and vultures roosting in trees for the night.
Bring a good head lamp, rain gear (wet in spring) and clothes you don't mind getting muddy. Definitely well worth the trip. There is a road next to campsite, so you will hear traffic from camp.

The park was nice with caves suitable for all ages and levels of adventurers. Be prepared to get a little muddy if you want to check out the depths of the caves. The campground was a good family environment with plenty of space for each camping unit. No firewood at the park. Watch for ticks.

I overheard the person in charge of the visitors' center say that many people just drive into the park without stopping at the center. Don't do it! This visitors' center has amazing collections of Native American artifacts and pictures of the early history of the park. All of this will add a lot to the hike to the different caves. There is no need to wear grubby clothes unless it has rained or you want to crawl around in the smaller caves. The main sites are very well lighted with concrete paths. Young children will find this an exciting places without the need to crawl around on all fours. An added extra--it's free.

We had a lot of fun exploring the caves. We did not go spelunking like some others we saw. We also did some hiking. Very pretty park.

We visited the caves in November. The campground is small and not too crowded. Unfortunately when we visited the modern restroom's were shut down. We went to the nearest McDonald's. The caves and the hikes are pretty good.

Be ready to stoop down and get dirty crawling through caves that are a delight of diversity, exploration and fun. This place was MADE for people who find exploration exhilarating but don't mind that cement and wooden paths have been made to make the process easier for those less able to get around easily on trails. The surroundings are simply gorgeous as well!

Warning: to take full advantage of the vast exploration possibilities here, being able to stoop over, crawl and climb stairs is almost a must here. There are places to see without doing so, but you miss out on the greatest treasures this place has to offer. Also be aware of what poison Ivy looks like just in case you run across it. They try to keep it clear of such, but just in case they missed some.

What to take: a change of clothes for when you finish. A flashlight (light and uncumbersome), a drink and a snack for the long trails ahead (I had a small water bag off my hip and a beef jerky in my pocket, you WILL find a time and place which is just perfect to sit a spell, take in the beauty and the peace around you while absent mindedly consuming your snack. Gloves for crawling through some of the trails to caves that have steeper entrances which may get your hands dirty (if thats a thing for you). I simply got dirty and washed off in the stream when needed. A camera or cell phone for memories that are to good to leave undocumented!

There are a variety of caves throughout this park, and they range from Vast caverns to small wonderfully cold caves that require you to crawl to explore all of it. Your experience is totally up to you and what you desire to create. You dont even have to go down into the caves to enjoy this area, the surroundings are beautiful from a simple car ride through the place...but you do yourself a disservice by not availing yourself of the thrills that await the young in heart when entering the joy of discovery that awaits within this trail of caves. Most of the trails through the major caves are cemented or wooden planked for easy walks requiring only to stoop down for extended walk time to get below entrance of the first major cave. Some hiking trails through the woods and more remote caves might not be so easily transversed, but there is plenty that are and you don't have to go to the more far reaching caves if mobility is an issue. For those without this issue, the paths for hiking and the rewarding extra caves and picturesque landscapes are well worth the sweat and calories spent. Plan a full day of exploring here and perhaps camping as well. It's a great place to visit that you won't be sorry that you came to and your kids will remember for the rest of their lives! make it memorable by adopting their enthusiasm and letting it show along side them. After all, that is the greatest gift that you can give them, sharing the kid inside of you with them. Share childhood together here :)

Took our kids 5 and 7 hiking here in January of 2015. WOW! So cool!!! We were one of a couple families here, that was it! Had the whole place to ourselves. Bring flashlights if you come off season. We went through the biggest cave and saw all the bats hibernating on the ceiling. Stuck to the bigger caves (not ones for tight places). Keep in mind bathrooms are closed off season too, so bring your own tee pee and find a nice spot in the woods!

This was probably the field trip I have liked the best in our 2 years of weekly trips! AWESOME experience! Absolutely beautiful scenery even without the caves. Going into the caves is such a fun adventure! All the kids just loved it! The last one we went into was Wye cave. Don't miss that one! At first it just looks like a hole in the ground, but it goes pretty far down, and is a ton of fun! Note that the visitor center is only open on weekends. We were fortunate enough to catch the sole park ranger on duty for advice on which trail to take. Great trip!

Wow! We felt like we were walking into a village on Endor...kept expecting to see an Ewok! The park, the caves, the staff, and the day was fantastic!

We stayed 1 weekday night at Maquoketa Caves State Park in a camper van on April 17, 2024, the 3rd day after it opened with the water turned on. There were lots of empty sites as expected but the campground requires a reservation with an additional fee even during the the off-season. This was an unnecessary burden outside of peak season and with very limited cell phone reception. As every camper knows, picking a campsite without being there to physically see it has its own challenges and risks depending on your rig. There was a nice bath house but it was totally locked when we were there with no advanced notice posted online. The camp host told us there was a problem with the plumbing that would takes weeks to fix. In its place there were 3 portable toilets that were a poor substitute flush toilets and showers. Many sites were flat & shaded and not too close to each other. The trails to the caves were nice but would be muddy after a rain. There were many stairs and inclines so not suitable for very young children or someone with a mobility handicap. Exploring the many caves on your own is the big attraction at this park.

Besides the closed facilities and reservation requirement , the other negative was the state was not fully prepared to be open for business. The web site showed a discounted rate for off-peak season. But when you arrive, there was a sign posted giving only the peak season rate. This caused campers confusion over the rate to pay with the self pay envelope. In talking to other campers, people were paying all different rates given the confusion over the web site versus the peak season rate posted. It should be a simple matter to post rates for different seasons and not expect visitors to figure it out for themselves. This problem needs to be fixed immediately.

Overall, we were disappointed in this campground. We would rate this campground a 3 based on the facility and reservation problems we encountered.

Maquoketa Caves State Park is one of my all-time favorites. It was super crowded the day we went (no surprise--a beautiful day on Labor Day weekend), but we still were able to find a convenient parking spot.

Our group was made up of me, my husband, and our three kids (ages 8, 5, and 1.5). We had the little guy in a backpack part of the time, but really it was easier to just carry him. It would have been too easy to bonk his head on cave ceilings in the backpack.

Dancehall cave is the biggest and most developed, and honestly my kids would have been happy just exploring that one for hours. The first twenty yards or so require crouching, but after that there's plenty of room to walk upright. That's the only cave we brought the little guy into. The two bigger kids and I hiked farther and went to Ice Cave and Rainy Day Cave, and those were fun, but they agreed that Dancehall was the best. The hiking was no big deal for me. The kids complained about all those stairs, but they made it just fine.

We had fun scrambling around on the rocks in the areas around the entrance to Dancehall cave. It's nice that you can make it a major excursion or a pretty mild one, depending on the needs of your group. Overall it was lots of fun, and I highly recommend it for an unusual outdoor adventure. You can't beat the price, either.

It was worth while going .theres alot to explore. If you are adventurous. Bring a flashlight and crawl into a cave. But beware of the risks you are taking . Theres alot of stairs to climb.to pack a few snacks and water. You might get your feet or yourself wet. Exploring .bring bug spray just in case. Enjoy

The state park has around 18(?) caves that you can explore. From standup caves to spelunking caves. We enjoyed hiking to each one and seeing what little treasures were hidden within. It was so much fun to crawl around and get muddy in some caves!

Easily accessible trails, deep in the woods, marked caves, well-maintained stairs, railings, and paths. The main caves are spectacular, but there are no stalactites or stalagmites left...too many people have vandalized/taken them. It's nice to explore without a guide, but I can see that's why there's so few mineral formations here. The bat population is safe from white nose disease (so far), and so we hiked with no worry about mosquitoes!

Amazing place. Well worth the visit. Take a change of clothes if you really want to get the full experience of the caves!
Definitely wear hiking type shoes.

The caves are awesome, a lot of fun for adventurous adults and kids alike. If you are looking for exciting vacations within Iowa, Maquoketa is a must see, just remember to bring extra shoes and clothes you really don't mind soiling.

This is my first time visiting a caves park, I did not know what to expect but I really enjoyed the hiking. Unfortunately, my husband and I did not explore the cave network because we did not bring extra but we had fun hiking around the grounds and taking pictures of the beautiful views.

I would say this is a fun place for kids, I saw some children getting dirty and hiking through the caves…

We hiked at this park with our 8 year old son and some friends and their boys. There are lots of small caves to climb around in and explore so it made for a fun day with our boys! Plan to bring a change of clothes because you will most likely get muddy. Don't miss Dance Hall cave! It's a longer cave that is pretty fun to walk through because it has a stream running through it.

This is a beautiful place for family fun. We took our 8 yr. old Granddaughter and she loved it. We brought flashlights, water and snacks. We took our time and walked the trails, visited every cave. Go at your own pace. We did stop to rest occasionally as we are 60 and 65 yrs. old. There are some caves that require several stairs to get to them but, again we stopped to rest when needed. The DNR had a nice display of fur hides of the animals that live in the park as well as information on them. They had 2 milk snakes you could touch as well. If your not a stair climber, bring lawn chairs and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Grills and picnic tables at close to the main entrance. This park is free. Worth the trip to one of Iowa's gems.

Today, I just visited the caves, nice experience, ideal for a different afternoon.
Everything is very well organized, there are people assisting and explaining before starting the walk, they also provide a map and a short introduction to the place.
Incredible! there is no fee required to visit.

Perfect for a day trip with the kids or a walk in the trees at a free state park. Enter from the east of the paved road. Do not take the GPS fastest route via 98 st from the west. 98 is a dirt road that you enter at your own risk. a flash light is helpful. Wear shoes that can get muddy.

Really great for hiking. Make sure you grab a map because it's easy to get lost. Very busy place on a holiday weekend. There are pretty good trails but several areas that need maintenance.

We loved this place! We took our daughter who was 18months at the time and she loved it. We loved seeing all the bats and walking through the caves. Bring good walking shoes and bug spray! We can't wait to go back!

Some of the rock formations at the park are just incredible. The smaller caves are fun to crawl around in, as long as you know where you're going! There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the park that are perfect for exercising. I would highly recommend this for a visit- very beautiful area.

Super cool place and an unexpected gem. Wish the trails were marked better and be map was more clear. We got lost for a bit but other hikers led us back.

My first trip to the caves! Some caves, lots of trails - but definitely worth it. Don't need to be an expert spelunker or anything - just need to be ready for some adventure. Dancehall Cave is tiny bit of Indiana Jones .... in Iowa!!

The only thing we could say bad is there is no guide or map to tell you where you are or what caves you have seen. You get lost very easy once you start on the trail and go into caves. The map at the beginning has no 'YOU ARE HERE' starting point so you have no idea what caves you have seen or missed.
Other then that the caves are amazing. Some are huge and you can walk through them and others tiny and you'll need old clothes cause your going to get dirty. Watch your step it is very slippery with all the cool temperatures and wet ground. Was definitely worth seeing.

Could not believe the cave system and great trails and is well maintained and free. Was busy and I can see why. A definite hidden gem. Would Recc

This park is a must see! It is a lot of fun to go through the caves. Be prepared to get wet and be muddy! Unfortunately for us we couldn't find all the caves that were on the map. The map and the trail markers could use a little updating, as it was hard to know where we were at at times, but don't let that deter you!

this was so awesome and beautiful! Took my 6 grands and they had a wonderful time crawling in the creeks and on the rocks. They got pretty muddy but clothes wash. be sure to wear good traction shoes and bring a flashlight. most of the paths are pretty easy to walk and we brought water and crackers, We spent about 5 hours there and had a wonderful time

2nd time here these caves are great. They actually have lighting now so you can explore even deeper. The park is very nice and the hike was a good exercise for most people.

This place is amazing. Who would know this type of landscape would be in Iowa farm land. There are multiple caves. 3 of the caves are connected - you go in 1 cave & go through a 2nd entry & exit a 3rd; very cool. We hiked through 1/2 the park & will definitely go back to hike the rest. There are a lot of stairs but well worth it. Everyone who likes to hike needs to visit this park, it's absolutely gorgeous.

My wife and I explored Maquoketa Caves State Park for three hours this past Saturday. We are in our 60s and were able to hike and explore the main trail system during this time period.

There was no charge to enter the park.

Be sure to pick up a map of the trail system. All of the caves are numbered on both the map and signs on the trail but there are no “You Are Here maps” on the trail system
.
Most of the caves are small containing only one or two chambers but Dancehall is huge and has three different entrance/exit points. Dancehall also contains lights and a paved path through most of the cave (although there is a good chance you are still going to get your feet wet) The one entrance requires you to stoop for 40 – 50 yards but the rest of the cave (which resembles a tunnel) is probably over 6.5 feet high.

None of the caves contained stalagmites or stalactites
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Strongly recommend that you wear hiking shoes or tennis shoes with good tread. We found flashlights beneficial in some of the minor caves if you wish to explore the secondary chambers. I got down on my knees a few times so “old clothes” are appropriate or you can simply turn around and exit the cave
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There are no trash receptacles in the park. So if you want to carry water or food with you be prepared to carry your trash out with you.

The park was busy the afternoon we visited but it was fun observing the kids and more adventurous visitors crawl/climb through holes and openings that I never would have even seen. That said it would be great to revisit the park in the fall during the midweek when I assume there would be far less visitors in attendance.

The afternoon we visited the park two members of the Department of Natural Resources were at the Visitor Center and brought three milk snakes with them. They allowed visitors to hold the snakes if they were so inclined.

A great park and if we are in the area again would consider stopping in for another afternoon.

Amazing caves! Such a cool place! If you want a quieter experience get there early! Before 1100am or after 400pm. Otherwise the passages & walkways get clogged.

I thought this place was neat. You can go in all of the caves and explore every inch. Some areas are steep so keep an eye on little kids. Some paths are better than others. I believe only one path/cave had a boardwalk.

After getting to the caves we were astounded by the immensity of the area. We were not prepared for any more than a short walk. This was also a weekday and they did not have bathrooms open for extended stays. But the potential for a days exploration of the caves is there for anyone coming prepared. We would very much like to visit this area again. It is free.

Life's responsibilities can take your inner child and put it on a shelf to collect dust. Exploring the Maquoketa Caves will dust it off and make you feel like a kid again (until the drive home when you WILL start to feel your age). On our way home from a weekend trip to Iowa to celebrate my in-laws 50th anniversary we decided to swing through the Park, take a quick look around and come back at a later date to explore. Two hours later I was drenched in sweat(bring some clothes to change into), the girls were muddy and my wife's camera was full of pictures. It was AWESOME! We didn't have time to see all caves but that just gives us an excuse to come back. My wife and I with our two girls 9 & 6 (who are not avid hikers) would definitely recommend this as a must visit for anyone looking for a little adventure. Bring some water, extra clothes, good footwear and headlamps/flashlights. Take some time for a vacation from being a Grown Up.

We loved hiking through the Maquoketa caves and the state park forests! It was a beautiful place to spend the afternoon. After hiking through shady forests in the medium heat we enjoyed the cooler temperatures of the caves :) The trails were hilly and offered a great moderate workout. I would definitely recommend it to Iowa visitors!

This was an excellent place to hike. The caves were neat to walk through.We only went into the ones you can stand up in. There are some you have to crawl into. If you can handle walking up and down steps this is a definite place to visit.There are a lot of steps to get to the caves, but worth it if you can handle them. It is free, donations are accepted.

Absolutely beautiful scenery! We loved the caves. My husband and oldest daughter (10) had a blast crawling thru the tiny caves. Definitely be prepared. Good quality hiking boots for grasping rocks, bug spray, and flashlights or head lamps are a must! Alsp be prepared, because you will get dirty! I do have to complain which in no way is this directed at the park but a group of women with several dogs were leaving huge piles of dog poop throughly the park. One was right in the walk way of a narrow underground cave, I also overheard a group of young boys giggling about how one had peed in a cave and another boy apparently went in the cave shortly after and put his hand in it. I cant believe the disrespect for such a beautiful public park. I was disappointed in those few people but absolutely taken back by the scenery! Will definitely come back some time!

It was very crowded when we went. They have a good visitors center. Ended up spending several hours and more than expected.
Dancehall area - bigger than expected and you can walk underground on a paved concrete/water, not much light. Some interesting photos when you enter/exit the different sections.
Rainy Day - not too much you can actually see or photo
South Section - very hills (up/down), alot of wood steps
North Section - Woodland trail is hilly

A unique park in that you can walk through caves.

I had been to the caves about 8 years prior with some friends my age, so I thought I would take my wife and my 3 year old with me this time in hopes that they would enjoy it and be able to look inside a few of the caves. I was not disappointed. The only trouble I had was explaining to my 3 year old that we had to leave before we could see insides ALL the caves. This is absolutely perfect for any age. Sure, when you have a child that cannot walk, you can't go DEEP into the caves, but there are still miles of trails to enjoy, and that much more to explore on a later visit. The staff at the lower shelter were great and had no problem explaining things to my daughter in a language she would understand. We cannot wait to go back and explore some more in the years to come. Plan for all day if you only have one day to visit.

We made a day trip of the Park during a stay in Galena and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a string of little caves, plus one, the Dance Hall Cave, big enough to be a lot of fun to explore. The area around the caves is hilly, wooded, and picturesque. A lot of it, though, was wet and sloppy from recent rains when we were there; wear hiking boots or shoes you don't mind getting muddy. The topography makes for strenuous walking; my pedometer gave me credit for over 20 floors by the time I left! Nice as the Park is, though, the State of Iowa needs to budget better for it. It looks like it was built by the CCC and benignly ignored since. All in all, though, it made a great day trip. I'd love to go back and see the caves I missed.

It’s been three years since we visited the caves. We planned a trip when we heard they were reopening the caves in 2012, while taking precautions against the bat affected white nose fungus. The precautions include a short informative message from a DNR rep and bleach treated mats visitors walk through before and after visiting the caves. Very easy, no big deal.
We took our grandkids, ages 8 and 9, to the caves for an afternoon outing. We all loved it. None of the caves are too scary; some are so small the kids could enter by themselves without fear. There’s a nice picnic area off the parking lot/restrooms so bringing drinks and snacks or lunch works great. Three years ago we brought the same kids to the caves and they loved it just as much when they were 5 & 6. An extra pair of shoes is advisable as some caves are muddy.

Despite several storm warnings and massive rain, my friends and I ventured out to Maqouketa to get a look at some caves. We got lucky and right as we parked, the sun started shining so we hiked into the first cave we saw. We only did about half of the whole trail because it did start raining again eventually but it was so cool. I loved the spooky fog that rolled in and since it was rainy the park wasn’t too hot or too crowded. I wouldn’t recommend hiking in this unless you are comfortable hiking on slick surfaces and in mud. Bring proper footwear and be ready to get creative as some parts of the trail were totally washed out.

It’s not just caves either, there’s bluffs and meadows and creeks/streams too. I can’t believe something like this in Iowa for FREE. Highly recommend for any age/skill level as long as you can comfortably walk up and down stairs/slight elevation gains.

Unfortunately the park was closed. You have to drive about 6 miles out of town to the park. We stopped and got directions and were told the road in was under construction, but if we stopped at the museum they would tell us how to get to the caves which supposedly were open during construction. We drove to the museum, it was closed as well. Waste of a trip.

Be sure to pick up the visitor's map. Several caves require crawling (#1-10 on the map) and others you can walk through (#11-16). Unfortunately, this information is not provided on the map or anywhere on the trail markers. We were advised by a park employee who was on site at one of the shelters who we stopped to ask a few questions of. Also, it would be nice if there was some sort of difficulty rating on the map or signs as we saw young couples struggling to carry a stroller along and several older people who didn't realize what they were getting into in terms of the terrain. There is a lot of climbing stairs in areas and the walking paths are not all paved, some are wet and rocky.

Upper dance hall is the easiest one to navigate, but you will still need to walk across walking stones in a couple of water areas. Do not take a stroller! You will be carrying it the whole way, including up many stairs! If you must take an infant with you, do so with a body sling. Otherwise, you may not enjoy your time if you have to carry a child through the caves and on the trails and staircases. We saw a lot of struggling parents with very small children who did not appear to be enjoying themselves much.

Wow! What a great little find. This is a must do for anyone traveling across the US or Iowa. Hats off to Iowa for providing such a great park at no cost. At the visitors center (which is closed except weekends) there are bathrooms which are open and tons of walking sticks for anyone to use (but I had brought my own. We were there on a Thursday so we used the bathrooms and took a picture of the trail map and went to the parking for the trails. The trails are well laid out and loop around together. We hiked for about 3 hours here and enjoyed all the caves (except for the ones that needed headlamps and crawling...that is a big nope for me). You have to walk the entire dance hall. It requires ducking down low to enter it but it is well worth the 30 seconds of ducking to get the the opening and then walking through the slots to the other side. Great place, well done, 5 stars all around!

Amazing place to go explore and see the Caves of Iowa. If you have done other cave tours, this is a little different. You are not going to see the giant formations you may have seen before but it is cool to see the area and hike to the many different caves of the area. We hiked all of the trails and went to see all of the caves. Some are small and little indentions in the land and some others are walk through caves. Try to spend as much time in the cool caves on a hot summer day as you can. Bring a drink and something to snack on if you want to hike all of the trails and see everything. Some trails are easy to get misguided on so be careful. Wear proper shoes and clothing as well. Really fun time and a good way to spend a few hours.

Wonderful place, not too far from Dubuque, but be prepared. We really enjoyed this park with our group that included an 8 year old and a black lab. Maps were available, but aren’t always, so bring one or save it to your phone. I recommend that everyone have their own flashlight or headlamp, but bring at least one. Many of the caves are small, wet and dirty, be prepared to get muddy and dress accordingly, and wear shoes with a good grip. We loved it here, but I wouldn’t recommend it for those who are claustrophobic or afraid of spiders.

Is really nice these park we came in winter time but I recommend to visit on Sumer time and bring xtra pair of shoes so you can really enjoy the park o and xtra clothes and a flashlight.

Maquoketa Caves State Park was beautiful! We visited all of the larger, more accessible caves with four adults and eight kids ages 1-10. The kids 4 & up loved exploring the caves. We carried the babies in backpacks. Everything is shaded and pleasantly cool. It was Memorial Day, so it was crowded, but it was doable. There are picnicking areas and bathrooms at the entrances. The entire park is free, so I was impressed by all the boardwalks and concrete paths that made the caves more accessible or less slick. The concrete paths within the larger caves were still wet and muddy, but they kept us out of the wettest parts. If you don't mind getting wet, there are plenty of fun-looking opportunities. We decided we'd love to go without kids sometime to explore all the less kid-friendly caves. It was worth the three-hour drive for us, though!

This place is amazing, know your skill level. Checkout the pics for caving idea of how tight it gets. Also bring headlamps and flashlights and don’t miss Wye Cave (be careful though). Steel gate is a great starter (don’t go down into the crevice that drops 15 feet—-if you’re daring enough to find it).

I figured it was free. I figured it was just some little hole in the ground. I was so wrong. This place is a treasure. The grounds are huge. The caves awesome. To think there is something this cool in Iowa that I overlooked my whole life is crazy. Totally worth a day trip, and to be a FREE attraction makes it even better. The lower dance hall is just incredible. Then you keep finding more caves with every cave exit. I took some really great pictures. Kids and adults will love this. I will come back again someday for sure.

This has become a semi-annual trip. Beautiful scenery and hiking, and a blast to crawl around in some interesting caves with the kids. Low cost camping and no vehicle fees. Enjoy!

Maquoketa caves are not what I expected. These caves are more open than others I have visited. Our family including the young children enjoyed the caves and hiking trails. Plan on getting a little dirty, dress appropriately. Caves are wet and dark. I would recommend good sturdy hiking boots. Bring a small flashlight and bottle of water. Sunscreen is optional as your not in direct sunlight very much. Bug spray if you dislike mosquitos, though they weren't bad for us. The terrain is uneven. Lots of stairs to get down into and back out of the caves. The hiking trails connect the various caves. There is a restroom near the parking area. Plan on an hour minimum to walk through all the caves, longer to stop and marvel at the wonders of nature or hike more of the trails. Fun outdoor activity!

I didn't go in many caves because I was by myself but it was still fun walking the trail and seeing the caves.

If you have a sense of adventure and old clothes, this state park is for you. Crawling in caves feeling you are the first one in tastes wonderful. Strange that this park is hardly known.

Didn't know about this park until this spring. After reading about it, I made plans for a day trip. So glad we went! The kids (and adults) had fun exploring the trails and caves. There are no guides. You are free to explore on your own. Take flashlights, old clothes and good walking shoes. There are some boardwalk trails but most are dirt and rock. Trails would be slippery if you went right after a rain. I would recommend this for 4 year olds on up. Toddlers might be OK if you stuck with the boardwalk trails. You may want to bring extra clothes for the kids. There are no parking or admission fees. There are modern bathrooms and picnic areas.

We visited with our 20+ month old and we all enjoyed it. Before visiting we read the reviews here and since many have mentioned about not having proper directions, we printed and took our own map, and it did come in handy (got it from the DNR website) Even if not you can start your hike from either sides of the road (where a shelter, rest rooms, and the map are located). The main cave runs under the road and you can select the route as you fit.
If you are really keen on going inside the little caves, be prepared to crawl and make sure you take flashlight, helmet, proper shoes, etc.
There are a few benches along the way for you to take a break and have a snack.

some of the spots on the trails were slippery. wear shoes that grip well. your feet will likely get wet.It was still nice & cool in the caves when it was very hot outside. print off a map before you go -visitor center closed due 2 covid. the place is small so even with small kids you might as well try to see about everything while you are there. even with small kids you can see everything in 3 hours. dancehall caves adults have 2 bend over in some spots. there are sidewalks in there and lights on the ceiling. we saw some garter snakes. some of the caves you have to crawl into only so we skipped those because our kids were scared but i think a lot of kids would have fun wearing a cheap headlamp from dollar general and crawling into a cave. a couple of the caves were closed. they close even more in the fall for the bats. wipe off/ clean your shoes before going white nose fungus is killing bats. 1 staircase near lower dance hall comes back up behind the bathrooms/ parking lot and the other staircase goes down to the natural bridge and upper dance hall cave. rainy cave is a little harder2get into so i carried my 4 year old into there. if you keep going after this point there is a narrow rock with staircase through it-after that we did not go all the way 2 the end at ice cave but then later realized we should have because the park was smaller than we thought.caves are very close to the parking lot. best2go during the week. went to Dairy queen in town after.

Visited here with my sons age 8 and 5. Best part of this is you can make it as easy or hard as you want. Both boys used dollar store flashlights to explore. Wish I had taken slightly better flashlight. We spent the entire day exploring and went through the Dance halls numerous times. We will return!!

Really enjoyed the drive and the time spent at this destination. Definitely worth the trip. You feel like you are entering a cave that will lead to the center of the earth. Beautiful and not too bad of a climb. Easy on the knees. A place I will go back too.

I have traveled all over the world and this is in the top 20 places I have ever been. Living in Iowa, USA, it almost seems too close to be awesome (approx 45 min from where I live), but cannot recommend this enough...truly a magical place to spend 3-4 hours. Trails are kind of short, but very well developed, with sidewalks and stepping stones where needed. Awesome place to take kids to explore, Jurassic Park type experience!!! No charge to visit either...totally free with great parking available.

We visited Maquoketa Caves S P on the basis of one lovely photo found on the net, so we really didn't know what to expect. What we found there was a real treasure- a delightful woodland area full of little streams and babbling brooks, with exciting looking caves and holes all around. A kids heaven, as they could all be explored.
The park ranger gave us a map which showed the locations of all the main caves, this listed which ones were easily accessible and which would require crawling / scrambling and getting dirty. The biggest cave was called the Dancehall Cave and was entered through a large exciting opening, down a flight of steps and then narrowing into a fun zig zagging passage with a stream running alongside the path. This had lights spaced at regular intervals so you could head on through even if you hadn't come armed with a torch. It passed right under the parking area and you came out the other side.
In all, this was a great find, especially as it was free entry. It would be a perfect introduction to spelunking, and all adventurous kids (big and small) would love it.

I can't believe I lived in Madison, WI for years and never took a trip down here. The caves are great. There are about a dozen small caves. Everything is self guided. No entrance fee. Lots of stairs. If you want to explore the smaller caves, bring a flashlight and some shoes you can get wet. Some you will have to crawl in the mud to get inside. There are numerous trails down along the small creek running through to walk. Definitely plan for several hours (3 hours min). There is a camp ground and restrooms, however all the restrooms were locked (not sure when they are opening as of April 9th). Ticks were out, I pulled a couple off me, so might be good to spray down before going.

Beautiful place to see. Decided to make a trip at the last minute and I'm glad we did. Great place for adventurous kids. Plan on getting dirty if you want to see all the caves and bring good shoes or boots. Some climbing required but worth every sore and strained muscle the next day. Bring plenty of water and and flashlight.

We camped at Backbone State Park and went for a road trip to Maquoketa Caves State Park. We listened to a very quick program at the entrance of the trails about White Nose Bat Syndrome and how to prevent the spread. We got a map and wristbands and followed the trails around to the caves. Lots of stairs! 13 different caves to explore. Some are crawling caves. We weren't able to visit all of them. Definitely bring extra clothes and headlamps if you plan on exploring in the caves. Bottles of water too if it's hot. There's many nice places to sit and rest on the trail. A one of a kind state park with absolute beauty.

The Maquoketa Caves State Park is just beautiful! There are many types of caves from very large one's with water running through them to those that are quite small. Each one is unique and interesting. You can basically explore any of them that you want but you are self-supervised. Kids love it should be supervised as it can be slippery and not well lighted. Bring a headlamp or flashlight, old shoes or boots and grubby clothes, so that you don't have to worry about getting dirty. The trails there are also beautiful. Best of all it was free but dontations are appreciated!

Great trip. We arrived at approximately 8 am and made our way towards the entrance of the park. There were informational plaques located at the beginning of the trails that provided information about the formation of caves and the various features found inside of them. The park was quite large, and contained several different trails to choose from. We opted to start on ridge trail, which took us through the upper portion of the park. There were several caves located on the trail, that one could climb inside of and explore. After exploring the upper portion of the park, we climbed underneath the dancehall cave and made our way to the lower portion of the park. This part of the park was more breathtaking and contained various different caves, including an ice cave. We wondered on some of the trails, until we were able to see each cave for ourselves. We did not go inside any of the caves because we did not have the appropriate equipment or flashlights. The main trails were relatively easy to walk on, and consisted of either walking on dirt, or on a boardwalk. We then made our way back towards the entrance, where there were restrooms and a small gift shop available.

Tip: I recommend spending 4 hours here if you truly want to see everything.

I loved this state park! The lady in the visitor center was so friendly and helpful. The trails were plentiful and so much fun! There are many caves and even one that you have to go through water to see. Some of the caves are small, some you just look into, and some are so big that you can walk around in them. My favorite was the Twin Arch Cave and the Dancehall cave but the Rainy Day cave and Ice Cave were great also. Pictures cannot do this place justice - you really have to see it for yourself! I really loved this place and will definitely be back!! I would caution anyone who cannot go up and down stairs well because there is A LOT of stairs. I counted over 70 some steps in just one area so make sure you can do stairs. There are benches for you to sit at if you get tired. I am very overweight and it was exhausting but worth every step and every minute being there. Bring a flashlight/headlamp and maybe a walking stick. But make sure to check it out!!

This is a small park, tucked away off the main roads. Nice picnic grounds, and bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water. There are a string of 16 caves, but the first 10 will require you to crawl to get through some low areas. You will get dirty! The remaining six can be accessed by walking, but you'll still have to duck in a couple places. There are also a lot of stairs. Beautiful place, but you need to be in at least moderately good physical shape -- not for extreme couch potatoes! Be sure to wear comfortable non-slip walking shoes that you don't mind getting wet or muddy if it has rained recently.

We really liked this park, lots of caves to explore. You can hike along ways if you go to all the caves and it can get muddy if it rains, so bring walking shoes and bug spray! Only downside was the restrooms at the entrance, very dirty and gross. I’m guessing they clean them every morning but by 2pm they were gross. Also I think it’s better to go on a weekday as there isn’t a lot of parking. Would recommend it to everyone!

These caves are stunning. My family loved every second of it. We got all dirty and wet exploring and had a great time. We are already planning on coming back to do the spelunking caves. The walking caves were excellent. Bring sturdy old shoes and plan to get dirty.

First time visiting this park and enjoyed all the scenery that this park had to offer.

I would enjoy the park more during the fall when the leaves are changing color.

The only thing I didn't care for was the poor signage to direct people around the park. I had a couple of people ask where they were at in the park and I couldn't help them because I was lost at times.

I would recommend that people pick up a park map at the visitors center along the highway. Pulled into the park off the highway and there stood a park ranger handing out a map, after getting parked, noticed the map was of other parks around the area.

I enjoyed the park and would definitely go back.

So many places to explore and such beauty. Who knew something like this existed in Iowa of all places. The caves and bluffs are so cool. Definitely a great place to get away for the day an explore.

The park was busy on a summer Saturday but did not seem crowded. The park guides were friendly and my son enjoyed petting the snakes and hearing about bats.
Having been to many state parks around the US, we were shocked that there is no entrance fee. We kept looking for a place to pay but did not see it. There is a donation jar and we contributed. There are so many cool caves and trails to explore here. Normally, my son whines to play games on his tablet, but at this park, he kept running ahead to find new caves to scope out. His favorite was the "ice cave", which was refreshingly cool. Nothing was roped off or restricted, but everyone seemed to respect the natural features.
We were also able to bring our dog on the trails with us which made the experience a true family affair.
We brought a picnic lunch and I'm glad we did since there were no restaurants or vending areas near the caves.
I'm excited to come back here in a few years so that my son can explore all over again.
Bring food, plenty of water, flashlights, insect repellant (we like Bug Soother best), wet wipes, and a change of clothes including shoes..

This is a wonderful wooded state park with hilly, but reasonable hiking trails that take you to numerous caves, one of which, Dancehall Cave, the largest, has electric lights to help guide you through. Bring a flashlight for the others. Picnic tables for a lunch break are plentiful. The park is heavily attended on weekends, but relatively empty during the week. We camped there for two nights, a Tuesday and Wednesday, in our 22' rv and never saw the camp host. Only four other sites were occupied. There is firewood stacked for your campfire with only a donation requested. Sites are generous in size and with electricity cost only $16/night. Spaces without electric are $11. There are showers, flush toilets, a dump station and water available. The park is a little off the beaten path between cornfields and livestock, but a worthy diversion, if you have the time. I only gave it four stars because maintenance could have been a little better. This is something I always weigh against the price, which is extremely reasonable.

This was a wonderful day trip. The caves are really neat. There is a lot of walking and it can be wet, slippery and dark. There were many people that came with lights. The trails are poorly marked and they should charge a fee for entrance so that they could do a better job on the paths and the trails and signage. You really need some walking shoes, and they will get wet and dirty! Also it is defiantly cooler in the caves. There are bathrooms and camping and picnic areas.

We have been two three beautiful state parks this week and we are so glad we made it here. If you have an hour to can walk though a large cave and numerous small ones. Lots of stairs and it can be slippery. Wear good hiking shoes and bring a strong flashlight. Very well maintained and really beautiful. For real adventurous people there are crawl through caves. We did not do any of those but if I was younger I might have tried it. I would have been in heaven 50 years ago. Just came here later in life.

Great little day trip for our family (our kids are kids 10 and under). Hiked for several hours and had a lovely picnic. A lot of steps and some slippery spots, but to be expected in that environment. Would recommend if you enjoy the outdoors!

I had never been to the mid west, and I love nature, so I wanted to visit here. It was so beautiful. We were lucky as the weather was not to hot yet. The caves were cool and fun to explore. TIP-- to really go into the caves and explore, where clothes and shoes you do not mind getting MUDDY. TIP-- get a map at the beginning. We did get a little lost in the pathways, it was alot bigger than I thought, and we had to wander a little. TIP--Take water, we made the mistake because it was cooler and we thought fairly short that we did not have alot of stock of supplies, and the humidity does stick in the pathways because all the trees are covering you. But absolutely worth a visit, and it is free... which you rarely find anymore.

These caves would be amazing if you were able to take your time to explore. Unfortunately, there were so many people and unsupervised children running around, we were constantly rushed. The rails were not adequately marked in some spots, we wondered down a wide trail which appeared to be used as a service trail as well. We ended up in a patch of prairie and ended up walking half a mile on gravel roads to get back to the park. Overall, it was a neat experience.

We were very impressed with this state park. The caves were awesome, especially the big one that goes underneath the road. Many visitors had flashlights and we wished we did too as there are some places that are dark. Be prepared to get wet and muddy, and wear sturdy shoes with good traction.

The scenery here is amazing, especially when you come out of the big cave. There are a lot of hiking opportunities and neat smaller caves to look in or even crawl in.

When you first arrive, you have to meet with a park ranger before entering the caves. The shelter for this is right before the trail entrance so you can't miss it. They give you a wrist band and talk to you briefly. The main concern is to not spread a certain bat disease. It is FREE to enjoy this park!

For us city folks, we were transported to a wonderland within minutes of entering the forest. Wished I had brought cheaper shoes though. Good, free "nature therapy" for our kids (ages 7-14).

This place is stunning. Must see. Sixteen different caves. Some are big and some are just cut out. You can walk thru them. some are lit and have sidewalks in them. Some you need flash lights or head lamps. You can get pretty muddy in some. There are a lot of stairs.

Better than I thought it would be.The main cave is great with some excellent views and is located close to the parking lot.The caves on the south side of the road are better,but require a harder journey.A good place to explore on a hot day!

We really enjoyed our visit to this park. We stayed one night in the campground, which was nice - camp pads are far enough apart from eachother for some privacy, and the location is quiet and serene.
We also spent several hours hiking around in the caves and were really impressed. Some of the caves are huge and you can walk through them, others are smaller. We tried to see all of them but there is quite a bit of hiking in between some of them (up stairs and steep terrain) and we were physically beat before we could see them all. Recommend headlamps to be able to see when you get into the caves, some are not lit.
Overall it was a really cool experience; hard to believe something like this exists in Iowa.

You only have to walk a short distance before you'll see sights that make you go wow. Cave currently closed as some handrails are broken due to storm damage but most people were going in anyway and there are no staff to monitor this. Toilets are currently closed. Highly recommended flashlight and waterproof boots and change of clothes. Water in some caves deeper than ankles and slippery mud makes for a soggy bottom if your keen to explore. Easy walking suitable for most , dancehall cave a must see.

I visited the caves with my boyfriend over the July 4th weekend and LOVED it! We had no idea there was such interesting nature & terrain in Iowa. Truly a hidden gem. Great for a day of adventuring and exploring. Trails allow you to go as shallow or deep into the caves as you would like -- which is great for differing skill and adventure levels. Watch your step though, rocks are slippery!