Off the beaten path in northeast Iowa is Pike's Peak State Park, one of Iowa's most spectacular spots. The park itself has the usual places for camping and picnics. But it's the view that sets this one apart.
Visitors flock to the lookout points high above the Mississippi River.
It's here that you can see the Wisconsin River joining the Mississippi. Barges seem to merely creep up and down the river. The park is built into the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, and here, like at Pike's Peak, the views are tremendous. There are 11 miles of hiking trails here, and a lot of them require a fair amount of exertion. You'll be rewarded, though, with views of the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge down below.