If you are looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon looking at some of the most beautiful and plentiful wildflowers Iowa has to offer on a guided tour with an expert, then you are going to be really excited about the upcoming Spring Wildflower Series. It's taking place next weekend.
You can keep up with any changes that apply to the upcoming Spring Wildflower Series on the Heritage Trail Dubuque Iowa's Facebook page, here.
On Saturday, May 6, 2017, a Dubuque County Conservation Naturalist will be leaving from the Heritage Trail Pond parking lot on a bicycle to take a group of visitors on a ride to check out the beautiful spring wild flowers along the trail. The ride starts at 10:00 am. No reservations are necessary.
If you'd like to participate, the Dubuque County Conservation Board asks that you bring your own bike and helmet.
Heritage Trail stretches 26 miles and is a recreational trail made from compacted crushed limestone.
It follows an abandoned railroad that connects Dubuque to Dyersville and spans Dubuque county.
This all-season trail is a safe haven for many fascinating varieties of native wild flowers, foliage, and wildlife.
The trail is well-maintained and offers amazing Iowa scenery. In addition to hundreds of Iowa wild flowers, visitors report seeing eagles, wild turkeys, deer, fox, and many different types of small birds.
The route goes past an old mill and mining towns and into a 450-foot deep valley. Thousands of hikers and bicyclists enjoy Heritage Trail's beauty each year.
About the first 2/3 of the trail is shady and full of limestone bluffs.
The wildflowers along this scenic trail are especially beautiful during the spring season.
The Dubuque County Conservation Board works hard to choose a date for their ride so that visitors can see as many flowers in bloom as possible.
Keep in mind that all county conservation board rules apply to visitors along the trail. The trail is closed after 10:30pm and camping is not allowed. Horses, motorized vehicles, unleashed dogs, and fires are also not allowed on Heritage Trail.
Towns along the trail include Dubuque, Durango, Epworth, Graf, Farley, and Dyersville. The portion of the trail between Farley and Dyersville is more open, with views of cornfields and farms.
The bridge is located about 2 miles east of Farley.
This trail is famous for its gentle slopes and ample shade.
Wild flowers bloom according to the weather, of course. Iowa springs can be unpredictable, to say the least.
The Dubuque County Conservation Board reserves the right to change the date of their Spring Wildflower Series bike ride if there aren't enough flowers in bloom to make it worthwhile.
Of course, you don't have to travel with the group on May 6th or on any other beautiful spring day to see the Iowa wild flowers in full bloom.
Some say this is one of the most beautiful bike trails in the United States.
The trail is wide and smooth, so anyone who can handle riding on streets should find this ride easy in most places. Some portions of the trail are paved, as well.
Visitors should bring water, as water stops are few and far between.
Views of the river, shady countryside, and riding under a canopy of trees will make this a memorable event.
Most of the trail is away from roads. Some of the best scenery is between Durango and Twin Springs, where you'll see the river on one side of the trail and gorgeous limestone cliffs on the other. You won't find restaurants very close to the trail, but there are park benches, trash cans, picnic tables, and restrooms along the way.
Are there any other wild flower tours happening this spring in Iowa? Let us know in the comments!
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