Horseshoe Bluff Hiking Trailhead — Attraction in Iowa

Located in Mines of Spain State Natural Recreational Area south of Dubuque, Iowa, Horseshoe Bluff Trail is one the best short yet scenic hikes in the entire state of Iowa. The bluffs is an impressive rock formation that is actually created through years of mining for lead. The towering 200 ft cliffs offer an unexpected treat as you walk on any of the three publicly-accessed levels. There are stairs and stone steps and a ramp to move from one level to the other. Its loop path is less than one mile, yet packs in some incredible views. If you use the nearby parking lot, some ppl enter from above while others from the bottom. I suggest heading to the far right end of the parking and approach the bluffs from the ground-level first. We opted to make a longer out-and-back hike from E.B Lyons Interpretive Center via Pine Tr & Mesquakie Tr and looping through Calcite Tr. to Horseshoe Bluff Tr....

This fantastic hiking location has nothing like it in the area. The remnants of an old mining concern from ages past has left what at this point almost resembles a natural canyon just off the Mississippi River. There's some great views from different points here though in the summer when fully attached is the most high grown it is a bit hard to get views out of the area although the views in the area are still very good.

There's two different routes to use either you can do the high hill climb to start and then go down or you can work your way slowly up (the second is less strenuous, to use it go right from the parking area when facing the...

What a fabulous place to be today!! My dogs were loving it immensely...as was I. The breeze, the leaves changing. Just spectacular. Fairly brisk and busy today. Lots of people and dogs out enjoying themselves as well, plus on well behaved cat too!! Gonna do it all over again tomorrow, and probably the weekend. We were out there originally to get my son's pictures taken with the dogs and then with his new car. The trails and the leaves made for some absolutely spectacular pictures. No Litter any place. People were so great about that. Out door portable bathrooms that get changed out weekly. Just about a perfect...