Folks who aren't from the Hawkeye State may not realize just how many awesome hiking trails we have. From the Driftless Area in the northeast to the Loess Hills in the southwest, and all the river bluffs and prairie pathways in between, thousands of miles of trails lace the Iowa landscape. Among these, there are a few could be described as iconic, and among these, I think there's one trail, in particular, that everyone should hike at least once; the Backbone Trail at Backbone State Park near Dundee. In fact, if you ask me, I think it's the most iconic Iowa hiking trail.

A few things make the Backbone Trail iconic. To start, it's the crown jewel of Iowa's oldest state park. Founded in 1920, 2000-acre Backbone State Park was the state's first, and what got folks' attention was the narrow limestone spine - the Devil's Backbone - jutting out into a tight bend in the Maquoketa River. It's the highest point in northeastern Iowa, and it gave the park and the trail their names.

The landscape surrounding the backbone is heavily wooded. In fact, a big chunk of the park - more than 130 acres - is designated as a state forest. This renders the limestone wall rising up above the treetops, even more dramatic - and the fact that you can hike out along the top of it even cooler.

You know what else? Backbone Trail is probably one of the - if not the - most popular hikes in Iowa. The DNR estimates that the park receives more than 600,000 annual visitors, making it one of three or four most visited state parks in Iowa. The two most visited state parks - Lake Manawa and Gull Point - are really more oriented toward water activities. And the short, easy, gorgeous Backbone Trail is the most popular hike at this popular park.

The whole loop is only about a mile, with just over 100 feet in elevation gain across the entire hike. You do have to watch out for roots and rocks, and the narrow portions of the trail do have some pretty steep drop-offs: The backbone is only 15 feet wide in some places, and rises from 50 to 80 feet above the river below. I remember taking my kids out on the backbone when they were little and keeping them pretty close at hand in these sections.

Backbone State Park remains open year-round and is absolutely gorgeous in all seasons. Visit the park's page on the DNR website for more details and camping information. As iconic as it is, the Backbone Trail only accounts for one of the park's 21 miles of hiking trails; check out AllTrails Plus for more hiking tips and suggestions at Backbone State Park.

Do you agree that the Backbone Trail is the most iconic Iowa hiking trail? Let us know in the comments!