My Visit to Eastern Iowa’s Stunning Maquoketa Caves [GALLERY]

There's no better way to spend the first day of fall than at one of Iowa's most gorgeous state parks!

On September 22nd, my mom and I traveled to Jackson County to visit Maquoketa Caves State Park. My mom was in town from Michigan and I wanted to take her somewhere fun and unique. It's been years since my last visit to the park, so it was the perfect option for both of us.

My mom and I left Cedar Rapids around 9 a.m. on Sunday, so we arrived at the park around 10:15. It ended up being the best time to be there, because it wasn't busy at all. We had the caves and the trails almost completely to ourselves!

Afterwards, we headed to another Jackson County favorites: Bluff Lake Catfish Farm. The Sunday special is all-you-can-eat fried chicken and shrimp, and it was DELICIOUS. On top of the great food, there are also some pretty stunning views! Here are some photos from our day in Maquoketa:

Maquoketa Caves State Park has been a popular site for tourists since the 1860s. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the 370-acre park is home to around six miles of trails, 13 caves, enormous bluffs, a creek, and prairie land. There is also a learning center, a park store, a campground, two picnic shelters, and a playground. Maquoketa Caves State Park is currently open daily from 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. You can get more information about the park and the campground HERE.