Iowa gets a reputation for being flat and boring, but those who live here know that’s the farthest thing from the truth! The Hawkeye State is full of beautiful hiking trails, cliffs, hills, rivers and scenery, and all you have to do to see it is visit this one tiny river town.
Marquette, Iowa is a tiny town on the Mississippi River that’s a nature lover’s dream come true.
Google Local / Lori Yoakum
There’s always something going on in this little town, so if you love to shop and stroll you’ll have a blast, but it’s the hikers that truly love living in Marquette.
Facebook / Marquette, Iowa
The town is located right in between Pikes Peak State Park….
AllTrails / Jennifer Schumann
… and Effigy Mounds National Monument.
AllTrails / Zachary Christy-Aronson
Pikes Peak is known for their winding boardwalk trails that take you to a stunning overlook and even underneath a waterfall.
AllTrails / Charled Holt
The Bridle View Trail is the waterfall hike - and it’s so worth checking out.
AllTrails / Doug Neidholdt
Of course, you’ve got to make it to one of the park’s notable overlooks, where you’ll catch breathtaking Mississippi views!
AllTrails / Brian Kern
Effigy Mounds is unique, too, and just a few minutes from Marquette.
AllTrails / Doug Neidholdt
Miles of trails wind up and around Native American burial mounds, which makes this one of the most unique parks in the country.
Flickr / Keith Ewing
Though it’s not as famous as Pikes Peak, the overlooks here are some of the best in the state.
AllTrails / Kyle Berg
The Sturgeon Slough Mississippi River Trail has a trailhead in Marquette, too, and this two-state trail is beautiful in the fall.
Flickr / Sonny Cohen
Lace up your hiking boots and head to Marquette, Iowa this fall for a handful of hikes that will get your blood pumping!
Google Local / Lori Yoakum
This nature lovers town is the perfect place for a getaway from the busy city life! For more information on Pikes Peak State Park, read The One State Park In Iowa That Stands Out From The Rest, and for more information on Effigy Mounds National Monument, read This Hike Takes You To A Place Iowa’s First Residents Left Behind.
Google Local / Lori Yoakum
Facebook / Marquette, Iowa
AllTrails / Jennifer Schumann
AllTrails / Zachary Christy-Aronson
AllTrails / Charled Holt
AllTrails / Doug Neidholdt
AllTrails / Brian Kern
Flickr / Keith Ewing
AllTrails / Kyle Berg
Flickr / Sonny Cohen
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