One of the most photographed state parks in Iowa, Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine is a magical place. It's easy to imagine why this state park got its name.
With 70-foot-tall sandstone cliffs towering overhead and boulders looming along the slopes and valleys, there are definitely places a large cat could have made a home back when this was a wilderness.
Now, the well-trodden trails draw many to appreciate the area’s natural splendor.
One climactic geological feature tucked away in Wildcat Den State Park is called “Devil’s Punch Bowl,'' where the water has hollowed out an overhanging semicircular shelf to create almost a tunnel underneath.
That isn’t the only tunnel you can experience hiking here, though.
The heavily wooded trails have a tree canopy overhead that forms a roomy tunnel as you drive or hike along these paths.
Various tree types cover the trail, and in one particular stretch, the bows of clustered evergreens touch above the path for a year-round tree tunnel that is magical in every season.
For the deciduous trees, the fall season offers a spectacular golden overhead, and the fresh smell of fallen leaves is invigorating.
There are a total of four miles of established trails at Wildcat Den, and there’s also a campground that is roughly centered in the park.
Hike east from the campground toward the park office if you want to see the boulders and cliffs. Or take a flatter and milder two-mile-long trail to the west of the campground. A park map can help you plan out your hike(s). Wildcat Den is located on the eastern side of Iowa not far from Muscatine.
While you are there, give yourself some time to see the historic grist mill and school on the eastern side of the park near the park office. If you want to peek inside, check online for the hours the mill is open, or call the park office at 563-263-4337.
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