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Nature|Waterfalls

Iowa Is Home To One Of The Country’s Most Photographed Spillways And You’ve Got To See It

Beeds Lake State Park in Iowa features the Midwest’s most photographed spillway waterfall and offers scenic walking paths, fishing spots, and a family-friendly campground.

Published Apr 8, 2019

Written by 

Kim Magaraci

It's so easy to fall in love with Iowa! It seems as if no matter where you go, there's a wonderful surprise right around the corner. In Beeds Lake State Park, that hidden surprise is the Midwest's most photographed spillway waterfall.

Beeds Lake State Park is one of Iowa's gorgeous natural wonderlands, and it's worthy of a day trip or a weekend camping excursion.

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Google Local / June Bryant

Along with the family-friendly campground, scenic walking paths, and picture perfect fishing spots, you'll find the Beeds Lake Spillway - the most photographed dam in the Midwest.

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Facebook / Beeds Lake

The park was developed in the late 1930s by the CCC, and the enormous, gorgeous spillway was the centerpiece. Beeds Lake Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990!

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Google Local / Michael Rolo

The hike up to the dam is a quick and easy one, and you can enjoy a view from the base of the falls, or way up high.

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Google Local / Donna Laws

You can visit year round, and see the trickle of the falls during a drought or a roaring cascade after recent rains.

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Google Local / Keith Ehlert

You'll find Beeds Lake State Park at 422 165th St, Hampton, IA 50441. Click here for more information about the camping available in this historic park.

It's hard to get enough of Iowa's waterfalls! Have you been to Lake MacBride State Park, where you'll find This Iowa Lake And Waterfall Will Be Your New Favorite Paradise.

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Nature|Waterfalls

The Stunning Top-Secret Waterfall In Iowa Nobody’s Ever Heard Of

Published Aug 2, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

Decorah is one of Iowa's most beautiful small towns, combining a wonderful small-town atmosphere and a rich cultural history with some stunning natural sites only minutes from downtown. When you talk about Decorah and waterfalls, almost everyone's mind immediately goes to Dunnings Spring Falls - and we can't blame them! It's definitely one of the state's most beautiful sights. But did you know there's a secret waterfall in Iowa only minutes from that park, and it's easy to find with only a short hike? Welcome to Twin Springs Park, one of the most relaxing and beautiful city parks in Iowa. It's best seen with a 0.8-mile loop trail, the Twin Springs Headwaters Loop Trail, which will take you right by a charming waterfall. We think it's a great way to spend a peaceful summer day and beat the crowds and the heat!

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One of the most laid-back parks in Iowa, Twin Springs Park is perfect for a hot summer day.

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Nick Chill/Google Local

The park is a small area just outside of Decorah, and it's an ideal spot for a quick summer hike followed by a cookout. It's a dog-friendly park if you have fido on a leash.

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Darrin Ochsner/google Local

The small park only has one trail, an easy 0.8-mile loop trail. Just follow it along the creek...

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Darrin Ochsner/Google Local

And you'll come to a beautiful, tiny waterfall that makes an incredibly peaceful photo opportunity.

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Tom Huffman/Google Local

There will rarely be anyone around except on the busiest days - but you might get some local company from the woods and the trout anglers targeting the holes along the stream.

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Nick Chill/Google Local

This park only takes a short time to explore, but it's well worth sticking around for a beautiful sunset by the falls.

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Logan Strom/AllTrails

Have you visited Twin Springs Park in Decorah and seen this beautiful secret waterfall in Iowa? Let us know about your visit in the comments section! If you want to see more pictures of the trail, make sure to visit the AllTrails trail listing. If you love hiking, consider a subscription to AllTrails Plus. The mobile app is remarkably convenient for hiking in remote areas, thanks to its downloadable trail maps with step-by-step instructions. And if you're looking for a memorable night out in Decorah after your hike, check out nearby Twin Springs Supper Club.

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Nature|Waterfalls

The Union Grove Lake Lower Loop Is One Of The Best Waterfall Hikes In Iowa

Published Jul 3, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

Some of my favorite hikes are those that include the best waterfalls in Iowa. These cascades are scattered around the state, and some take a pretty long and intense hike to reach. One that doesn't is located in Union Grove State Park, a beautiful rural haven about 65 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids. This laid-back park is home to maybe the best waterfall hike in Iowa, the Union Grove Lake Lower Loop. Coming in at only 2.3 miles, this easy loop trail is an ideal day adventure for beginner hikers and is full of beautiful sights even before you get to the park's famous spillway. We find this is an amazing hike any time of the year, because it's so accessible to all skill levels. Read on to discover why this hike belongs on your state park bucket list!

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Union Grove State Park is one of those laid-back hidden gems that's great for hiking, sight-seeing, and even camping.

Sign for Union Grove State Park, surrounded by greenery, indicating the Department of Natural Resources.
Jason Sydejko/AllTrails

There are two main trails here, and the Union Grove Lake Lower Loop trail is an easy 2.3-mile loop trail that's suitable for all skill levels.

A wooden bridge over a small stream, surrounded by trees and grass, with a warning sign nearby.
Darrin Ochsner/AllTrails

The trail is most popular in the summer, when the lake is at its most beautiful and is ripe for recreation.

A serene lake surrounded by greenery under a blue sky with fluffy clouds reflecting on the water's surface.
Le Cox/AllTrails

The highlight here, though, is probably the park's famous, small waterfall - a beautiful sight.

A sign indicating a waterfall, with a hiker symbol and a "No ATVs" sign, surrounded by greenery and rocks.
Valerie Boelman/AllTrails

A small spillway, it's one of the most beautiful sights in the park and offers a great photo op for visitors.

A small waterfall cascades over a stone ledge into a rocky stream, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Daniel Valencia/AllTrails

While more people visit during warm weather, it's uniquely peaceful in the winter, as well, when it's frozen solid.

A frozen waterfall surrounded by snow-covered rocks and trees in a winter landscape.
Jon Day/AllTrails

Have you hiked the Union Grove Lake Lower Loop before? What's your favorite waterfall hike in Iowa? Let us know in the comments section! You can see more pictures of this trail on its official AllTrails trail listing, and visit the Union Grove State Park website for more information about this laid-back park's many amenities. And if you're looking to build up to more challenging hikes, we highly recommend a subscription to AllTrails +, so you'll always be equipped with downloadable trail guides and step-by-step directions, no matter how remote things get.

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Looking for a unique place to eat around this area? Head to the nearby community of Marshalltown for The Flying Elbow, an over-the-top, wrestling-themed restaurant.

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