Iowa

Iowa

Backbone State Park

☆ Sign in to star
Established
1920
Acreage
2,001 · 2,001 acres; original 1,280 acres donated by E.M. Carr; dedicated May 28, 1920
Location
Delaware County, IA ~3 mi south of Strawberry Point
Key features
Narrow, steep limestone bedrock ridge ('Devil's Backbone') carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River; CCC-era stone structures; Richmond Springs trout stream; 85-acre Backbone Lake
Activities
Hiking (21 miles of trails), rock climbing/rappelling, swimming, trout fishing, boating, camping, mountain biking, cross-country skiing
Notable
Iowa's first state park; CCC architecture in the park is on the National Register of Historic Places

Visits

Sign in to log a visit.

Source: www.iowadnr.gov · 2026-05-09