 maquoketa caves state park is a state park of iowa, us, located in jackson county. it stands northwest of the city of maquoketa. the park contains more caves than any other state park in iowa. a trail system links the caves, formations, and overlooks while providing a scenic hiking experience. many areas on these trails have seen new construction, making the journey to the caves safer. most of the caves may be entered by persons of average physical ability, but some are more advanced. however the park's caves were closed to humans between 2010 and april 2012 in the hopes of protecting the resident bats from white nose syndrome. the park is in the driftless area of iowa. this region escaped being glaciated in the last ice age, while regions to the east and west were not spared. the park has been subjected to hundreds of thousands of years of natural non-glacial erosion. the park's caves, limestone formations and rugged bluffs represent a step back in geological time of thousands of years. stalactites once hung from the ceilings and stalagmites rose from the floor. souvenir hunters have robbed the caves of this rare beauty, but many formations remain. today a modern interpretive center outside the park entrance provides maps and other informational materials. inside the park, a central map kiosk includes charts of some of the more interesting caves. == history == artifacts such as pottery, as well as tools and projectile points made of stone have been found in the caves 
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