Trails provide access for visitors while ensuring user safety and resource protection. Iowa trails are used by hikers, people with varying abilities, as well as those using a variety of transportation forms including touring and mountain bikes, horses, roller skates, skateboards, cross-country skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles, dogsleds and wheelchairs. The Department of Natural Resources provides 600 miles of trails within state park and recreation areas.
Some state parks have self-guided interpretive trails.
These include points of interest, plant identification and site interpretation. Brochures are available at trail heads and park offices. Fully accessible trails can be found at Ledges, Big Creek and George Wyth. There are 4 trails linking 10 state parks. Those parks that are on the same route are indicated with the name of the route.