If you want to climb or rappel at the park, you must first register at the South park office and review the climbing rules. Rock climbing and rappelling are adventurous park activities! A popular spot for both is the Drive-In Wall, a 70′ tall ridge that’s easy to access off the park road. Cave at Backbone State Park Rock climb or rappel Getting to a cave room will require a lot of bending, crawling, and a good flashlight! Plan to get muddy. Take a short hike from the park road and cool off in a cave. Picnic shelter near Richmond Springs Visit a cave The spring’s output is 2000 gallons per minute at a consistently cool temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit! It feeds Fenchel Creek, a beautiful shallow stream through the park. The steam rising off Richmond Springs is a beautiful sight on a warm day! See the natural jade-colored pool near a picnic shelter on the park’s north end. *Backbone Lake has a history of water quality issues, so it’s wise to check the state’s beach monitoring map before swimming. Spend the day basking in the sun, build a sand castle, or play a game of beach volleyball at the beach! Another lovely beach perk is the concession store at the beach house, where you can get a hot dog, ice cream, beach toys, and more! Find the beach on the lake’s southeast side.* So stop by to rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes for hours of fun on the lake! Beach house Spend the afternoon at the beach Electric motors are allowed at no-wake speeds.Īnd if you don’t have a boat, you’re in luck! Boat rentals are available at the boathouse near the beach. Fenchel Creek Explore Backbone Lake by boatīring your boat or rent one from the park concessionaire to explore Backbone Lake. Find plenty of accessible fishing spots not far off the park road. And it’s a perfect spot for trout fishing! The Iowa DNR regularly stocks the creek with thousands of trout for year-round fishing. In fact, it’s one of the most popular spots for trout fishing in Iowa!įenchel Creek is a beautiful, cool, clear stream fed by Richmond Springs on the park’s north end. Trout fishing in Backbone State Parkīackbone stands out for its excellent trout fishing. Anglers catch Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Trout. In other words, it’s a great place to go fishing. There are two fishing opportunities at Backbone State Park: Backbone Lake and Fenchel Creek.īackbone Lake is an 80-acre lake with boat access, fishing jetties, and a concession shop with boat rentals and bait. See the Iowa DNR Brochure and Map for trail locations and distances. However, it’s important to note that it’s on public hunting ground, so trail users should be more alert during hunting seasons. This 7-mile trail is popular for horseback riding and mountain biking and is open to cross-country skiing in the winter. The longest trail is at Backbone State Forest, on the park’s northeast corner. The East Lake, West Lake, and Six Pines Trails connect to form a ~6-mile loop trail around the lake. It’s a moderately difficult trail with some rocks to scramble over.Īnother popular hiking area is around Backbone Lake. 8-mile loop trail is on a narrow ridge towering over the Maquoketa River. The Backbone Trail is one of the more popular trails at the park. Many trails wind through the woods over interesting terrain and offer great views! With over 20 miles of multi-use trails through unique landscapes, Backbone is a favorite among hikers. Old Fish Hatchery built by the CCC Things To Do at Backbone State Park Hike! The good news is, if you want to learn more, there’s a CCC Museum on the park’s west side. The boathouse, beach house, old fish hatchery, shelters, and much more still stand as a testament to the quality craftsmanship of the CCC. Then, in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many unique park features you can still see many of them today. The State of Iowa dedicated the park in 1920 but didn’t start work until 1925. He bought the land in the 1890s for conservation. The first 1200 acres of Backbone State Park were donated by a Lamont, Iowa, man named Edward Carr. Pammel, who envisioned the area as a state park. The narrow ridge and other unique geological formations interested prominent Iowans, like Thomas MacBride and L.H. This ridge is the highest point in northeast Iowa, once referred to as The Devil’s Backbone. The name for the park came from a narrow bluff carved on two sides by a curve in the Maquoketa River. There’s something for everyone at Backbone-especially nature lovers! And we believe it’s among the most adventure-filled parks in the Iowa park system. This one-of-a-kind 2000-acre park is a sight to behold, with unique geological features and tons of outdoor activities. Backbone State Park is Iowa’s first state park, dedicated in 1920.
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