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LMQC’s outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler, and her faithful companion, Kaia, take us on a snowy adventure inside Bettendorf’s largest park – Crow Creek Park – which offers everything from exceptional nature trails to cross-country skiing and more! (Especially if you’re a furry, four-legged hiker.)
By LMQC Outdoor bloggers, Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia
Crow Creek Park is Bettendorf’s largest park and a perfect getaway for hiking, nature walks, and cross-country skiing.
We get that not everyone thinks of winter snow as being the perfect time to get out and take a hike.
Not everyone, that is, except, Kaia. For her, winter, snow, out-of-doors, tromping through the woods, what could be better? And so, Kaia and I ended up at Crow Creek Park, 4701 Devil’s Glen Road.
In every season, the park offers something for everyone.
Trails are groomed year ‘round. There’s baseball, soccer, and flag football fields, three playgrounds, a skateboard park, Dek hockey rinks, shelters (some reservable with electricity and grills,) restrooms, a quarry with dock for fish and release (no swimming!) and a 7-acre dog park.
Of course, when Kaia and I come to Crow Creek Park, we tend to gravitate to the trails. We include the quarry in our walk, but generally save stopping there until the end of our hike.
The paved and well maintained 1.5-mile multi-use recreation trail winds its way through the park and connects to the Duck Creek Recreational Trail network.
Today, Kaia and I encountered only a few people, some jogging, some walking their dogs and even a few out snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Don’t let the thought of snow keep you off the trails
Whether you’re coming to take a walk or jog, the park also offers a great cross-country trial. During warmer months, watch for in-use signage as these trails are used by our school track teams for practice as well as regional Cross-Country meets.
The park recently cleared a nature trail, easy to follow as it hugs the winding shores of Crow Creek. Walking this path feels as though you are deep in the forest when, in reality, the path is easy to get to, just off the cross-country trail and the recreational trail.
Kaia is always enthused on these natural trails. Today she picked up some good scents, tracks left by deer, squirrel, and raccoon. She had to pause during these finds as they piqued her curiosity.
That is one of the fun parts of getting out when there is a fresh snow. During these winter walks I am able to read the footprints or wing marks and understand what has drawn her scrutiny, causing her to stop and do a thorough examination. She is very aware as to what has recently been through the woods.
Great for people – and dogs, too!
Another attraction at Crow Creek Park is it’s 7-acre dog park. Divided into two larger areas for large dogs (or smaller dogs who are comfortable with larger dogs,) and a third, smaller fenced area for smaller dogs, very young dogs, or older dogs who might not be comfortable with the energy level of the dogs in the other area. This smaller area is named the SPOTT.
The two larger dog park areas are never open at the same time. By rotating these two areas, it allows a rest from the wear and tear and time for the grass to recover. All three areas have double-gated entryways. There are a few benches provided.
Dog-friendly water fountains are located outside the main entry gates. Waste bag dispensers and trash cans help in keeping the area clean and picked up. Dog park rules can be seen here.
Crow Creek Park’s history
This 134-acre park and quarry was once farmland. As part of a REAP grant acquired by the city in the late 90s, the quarry cleaned up.
Prior to the park’s development, the quarry area had been used as a dump site. Something farmers often did to slow soil erosion or to dispose of equipment no longer suitable for farm use.
As a result, some serious clean-up was needed, including the removal of an assortment of finds. According to one source, the quarry is said to be between 60-70’ deep.
One can stop at an overlook – there are two – take a seat and enjoy the pretty view.
Others enjoy doing a little fishing at the quarry. No fishermen there on this day, but come summer, we quite often see a couple of bikes and some friends with their lines in the water.
Plenty of parking near the quarry
When we come to Crow Creek, we generally park near the quarry. There is a pretty gazebo nearby. It is perfect for a nice picnic. However, we never seem to have time for that, as Kaia’s nose is to the ground, determining who’s been here before her, and she’s hot on the trail.
We like to follow the Recreation Trail (paved) at the start, but we soon veer off toward Crow Creek and wander the nature trail. This leads back out to the Recreational Trail, and if we wanted, we could get back on that trail and take it all the way to Middle Road. However, preferring grass and dirt over pavement, we cross the Recreational Trail and follow the cross-country trail.
We follow this wide and well-defined trail, eventually ascending to a parking lot and baseball field area. We generally walk past the ball diamonds and restrooms, arriving near a small shelter. This brings us to Exterminator Hill. YES! That’s the name, and as we head down the hill, Kaia hears a lot of “Kai, slow down, wait…wait…wait, be careful.” I say that because we have, or I should say, I have been known to feel my footing slip some on this slope! But we like the route and don’t mind the challenge.
Once descending Exterminator Hill, we continue to follow the cross-country trail back to the parking lot. Of course, this is when we stop at the quarry.
Dogs are not allowed to swim in the quarry, but Kaia does need a drink, and she likes getting her feet a little wet. She also always wants to walk out on the dock and take in the sights and smells.
By the time we leave the quarry, we are nearly back to the car. Another fine day of getting outside and spending time together.
Check out the images from Teri and Kaia’s latest outdoor adventure …
By LMQC Outdoor bloggers, Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia
Crow Creek Park is Bettendorf’s largest park and a perfect getaway for hiking, nature walks, and cross-country skiing.
We get that not everyone thinks of winter snow as being the perfect time to get out and take a hike.
Not everyone, that is, except, Kaia. For her, winter, snow, out-of-doors, tromping through the woods, what could be better? And so, Kaia and I ended up at Crow Creek Park, 4701 Devil’s Glen Road.
In every season, the park offers something for everyone.
Trails are groomed year ‘round. There’s baseball, soccer, and flag football fields, three playgrounds, a skateboard park, Dek hockey rinks, shelters (some reservable with electricity and grills,) restrooms, a quarry with dock for fish and release (no swimming!) and a 7-acre dog park.
Of course, when Kaia and I come to Crow Creek Park, we tend to gravitate to the trails. We include the quarry in our walk, but generally save stopping there until the end of our hike.
The paved and well maintained 1.5-mile multi-use recreation trail winds its way through the park and connects to the Duck Creek Recreational Trail network.
Today, Kaia and I encountered only a few people, some jogging, some walking their dogs and even a few out snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Don’t let the thought of snow keep you off the trails
Whether you’re coming to take a walk or jog, the park also offers a great cross-country trial. During warmer months, watch for in-use signage as these trails are used by our school track teams for practice as well as regional Cross-Country meets.
The park recently cleared a nature trail, easy to follow as it hugs the winding shores of Crow Creek. Walking this path feels as though you are deep in the forest when, in reality, the path is easy to get to, just off the cross-country trail and the recreational trail.
Kaia is always enthused on these natural trails. Today she picked up some good scents, tracks left by deer, squirrel, and raccoon. She had to pause during these finds as they piqued her curiosity.
That is one of the fun parts of getting out when there is a fresh snow. During these winter walks I am able to read the footprints or wing marks and understand what has drawn her scrutiny, causing her to stop and do a thorough examination. She is very aware as to what has recently been through the woods.
Great for people – and dogs, too!
Another attraction at Crow Creek Park is it’s 7-acre dog park. Divided into two larger areas for large dogs (or smaller dogs who are comfortable with larger dogs,) and a third, smaller fenced area for smaller dogs, very young dogs, or older dogs who might not be comfortable with the energy level of the dogs in the other area. This smaller area is named the SPOTT.
The two larger dog park areas are never open at the same time. By rotating these two areas, it allows a rest from the wear and tear and time for the grass to recover. All three areas have double-gated entryways. There are a few benches provided.
Dog-friendly water fountains are located outside the main entry gates. Waste bag dispensers and trash cans help in keeping the area clean and picked up. Dog park rules can be seen here.
Crow Creek Park’s history
This 134-acre park and quarry was once farmland. As part of a REAP grant acquired by the city in the late 90s, the quarry cleaned up.
Prior to the park’s development, the quarry area had been used as a dump site. Something farmers often did to slow soil erosion or to dispose of equipment no longer suitable for farm use.
As a result, some serious clean-up was needed, including the removal of an assortment of finds. According to one source, the quarry is said to be between 60-70’ deep.
One can stop at an overlook – there are two – take a seat and enjoy the pretty view.
Others enjoy doing a little fishing at the quarry. No fishermen there on this day, but come summer, we quite often see a couple of bikes and some friends with their lines in the water.
Plenty of parking near the quarry
When we come to Crow Creek, we generally park near the quarry. There is a pretty gazebo nearby. It is perfect for a nice picnic. However, we never seem to have time for that, as Kaia’s nose is to the ground, determining who’s been here before her, and she’s hot on the trail.
We like to follow the Recreation Trail (paved) at the start, but we soon veer off toward Crow Creek and wander the nature trail. This leads back out to the Recreational Trail, and if we wanted, we could get back on that trail and take it all the way to Middle Road. However, preferring grass and dirt over pavement, we cross the Recreational Trail and follow the cross-country trail.
We follow this wide and well-defined trail, eventually ascending to a parking lot and baseball field area. We generally walk past the ball diamonds and restrooms, arriving near a small shelter. This brings us to Exterminator Hill. YES! That’s the name, and as we head down the hill, Kaia hears a lot of “Kai, slow down, wait…wait…wait, be careful.” I say that because we have, or I should say, I have been known to feel my footing slip some on this slope! But we like the route and don’t mind the challenge.
Once descending Exterminator Hill, we continue to follow the cross-country trail back to the parking lot. Of course, this is when we stop at the quarry.
Dogs are not allowed to swim in the quarry, but Kaia does need a drink, and she likes getting her feet a little wet. She also always wants to walk out on the dock and take in the sights and smells.
By the time we leave the quarry, we are nearly back to the car. Another fine day of getting outside and spending time together.
Check out the images from Teri and Kaia’s latest outdoor adventure …
Teri Stickler
Outdoor Blogger and Co-Adventurer
Meet Teri Stickler. Teri is a retired Quad-City teacher. She thoroughly enjoys the out-of-doors, sharing most of her adventures with her Samoyed companion, Kaia.
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