If someone were to ask you about hiking in Iowa, what would you tell them? As it turns out, our amazing little state is tragically underrated when it comes hikes and hiking trails. It offers some truly jaw-dropping views, scenery, and more. Iowa is a beautiful place, and it's underrated in more than one way... but I digress. Hiking Iowa is a good idea, no matter what.

Personally, I find hiking so much more rewarding when I'm not at risk of ending up on an overly crowded trail. So, I've compiled a brief list of some of my all-time favorite hiking trails in Iowa that you might get to yourself if you time everything right - think weekday mornings!

1. Hanging Rock Trail

It's quite difficult to overstate the beauty of Hanging Rock Trail, which you'll find tucked within Effigy Mounds National Monument. This 5.7-mile adventure features gorgeous, shady woods, absolutely jaw-dropping views, and photogenic angles of the Mississippi River. What more could you want? This trail is rated as moderately challenging, and some of those challenges include uneven terrain and some steps, so plan accordingly. Parking is free, and the trail is utterly incredible. It's a miracle of some sort that it's not much, much more popular.

2. Saylorville Lakeshore Trail

The gorgeous Saylorville Lakeshore Trail is as beautiful as its name implies. It's impressively long, at nearly nine miles, but it's easy - most folks will find it to be quite doable whether they choose to do all or just a part of it. Wildlife watchers will love this one, and in the fall, the foliage is to die for. Dogs are welcome on a leash, so bring your pup - they'll love it, too! Hiking in Iowa is much more rewarding than most folks expect it to be, and this trail is a great start.

3. Brent's Trail

For those who enjoy a challenge, this one is perfect: Brent's Trail is an adventure unlike most others in the beautiful state of Iowa, and if you're a fan of hikes that'll make you forget where you are for a moment or 10, this is it. Keep in mind, though, that this trail is rated as hard, and the Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area in the Loess Hills is quite remote in some places. It's popular among backpackers, and it's known for being very well-marked. This is one of the hardest hikes in Iowa, and I love it. As for who "Brent" is, well, I don't know... but I don't think he'll mind us hiking here.

4. Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail

Of all the amazing trails on this list, this one is probably the most likely to have a few other people on it, but you can still definitely eke out days and times when it's quiet and peaceful. Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail is so utterly incredible that I couldn't resist mentioning it. Seriously, look at that photo - it's genuinely more like something out of a J.R.R. Tolkien book than something you'd expect out of Iowa. It might just be one of the most beautiful places in Iowa... and you can hike it anytime.

5. Paint Creek Unit Loop

Hidden within the Yellow River State Forest is the Paint Creek Unit Loop, one of the most gorgeous little secrets you'll ever learn in Iowa. It's long and difficult, but every single step is worth it for some of the most outrageously gorgeous landscapes in the entire Midwest. This trail is home to several backcountry campgrounds, all of which are free, though registration is required. The views are outrageously amazing, and I think this one might just become everyone's new favorite hiking trail. Goodness knows it's one of mine.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you have any favorite lesser-trekked hikes in Iowa you'd like to see me cover? Let me know! If you'd like to ramp up your hiking game to 11, be sure to check out AllTrails Plus - after the seven-day trial, you'll probably (like me) realize you can't live without it!