Exploring the trails of Palisades-Kepler State Park

LMQC’s outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler, and Kaia, her loyal trail buddy, take to the trails near Mt. Vernon, Iowa, as they explore the wilderness on the banks of the Cedar River known as Palisades-Kepler State Park.

By Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia

When you see the giant, American Gothic barn, you know you’re almost there.

Are you ready for a little road trip? It’s spring!

Maybe throw on some hiking boots, pack a lunch, grab your camera, and canine friend if you’d like? Then take a drive west to Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. It’s an easy drive.

We took Interstate-80 from the Quad Cities west to U.S. Highway 1. From there it is just a short drive north through Solon, Iowa, to Highway 30 and you’ll see signs for the park entrance. You will know you are getting really close to the entrance when you see a farmer’s barn fully painted by artist Mark Benesh with the giant image of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.”

A hidden gem (and challenging trails) along the Cedar River

Palisades-Kepler Park is bordered on one side by the Cedar River. This 840-acre park was first established in 1922 and expanded in 1928 when Mr. Kepler donated his estate and nearly doubled the park’s size. Palisades-Kepler offers nearly 6 miles of designated walking and hiking trails.

According to the State Park Map’s Trail information (click here for a PDF of the map), Overlook Trail and Woodland Trail are identified as Easy and Moderate respectively whereas the other four trails, Campers Trail, Cedar Cliff Trail, Cool Hollow Trail, and Lodge Trail are listed as Hard. On our walk, we did find some of the trails to be somewhat rugged as they wind their way through deep ravines and mature forest of black maple.

Kaia and I explored the Cedar Cliff Trail, but if you are up for a longer hike, try the 3.1-mile Loop Trail, (a combination of Cedar Cliff Trail, Cool Hollow Trail and Woodland Trail). This trail is listed as moderately challenging, but wear hiking boots and be prepared for some exercise. The entire loop takes about 1 ½ -hours to complete.

Kaia and I did not walk the entire loop but followed the Cedar Cliff Trail along the edge of the Cedar River. There are some fantastic views, as one stands on the bluffs and looks out over the river to the opposite shore. The day we were there an opaque mist lay suspended over the water, keeping secret, except for the occasional bump of an oar on the gunwale of their boat, some fishermen hoping for a bass or walleye to bite.

A perfect place to walk on two or four feet

Dogs are welcome at the park, but must be leashed (even when posing for a picture).

Dogs, of course, are welcome in the park but must be leashed. We abide by those rules, though Kaia sure did get excited and wanted to pull loose and run and play when she walked the sandbar with me and waded into the shallows in the newly thawed river waters. Her version of a spring polar plunge, of sorts.

I did my best to calm her and stop her from barking. We know you don’t make noise when someone is trying to fish! But when Kaia gets excited and so charged up from such freezing-cold, freshwater, all she could think about was trying to get me to join in the fun and appreciate just how invigorating that water was. Or, who knows, maybe she was reading me out for not first warning her and then my being so rude as to laugh.

Park amenities are plentiful

The park offers 45 campsites, some with electrical hookups, showers and restrooms, and four cabins that can be rented during the summer and fall. When entering the park and just past the sign for the park office is an area of ancient Indian burial mounds.

And in the exposed rock along the Cedar River, where once a molar tooth of a mammoth was found, one will find the perfect spot to search for fossils

Teri and Kaia had a great day exploring the trails at Palisades-Kepler State Park

An impressive limestone lodge built in the 1930’s by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, is available for weddings or reunions. Additionally, the park has two open picnic shelters.

If it’s fishing you seek, there are picnic tables and, near the old dam, there is a huge sandbar with a nearby boat ramp for easy water access.

A hike well worth the drive

Plan a trip to Palisades-Kepler State Park this spring and witness the variety of spring wildflowers and maybe, before all the trees leaf-out, see lots of birds and some whitetail deer or wild turkey on your hike.

Download a history of the park by clicking here.

By Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia

Are you ready for a little road trip? It’s spring!

Maybe throw on some hiking boots, pack a lunch, grab your camera, and canine friend if you’d like? Then take a drive west to Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. It’s an easy drive.

We took Interstate-80 from the Quad Cities west to U.S. Highway 1. From there it is just a short drive north through Solon, Iowa, to Highway 30 and you’ll see signs for the park entrance. You will know you are getting really close to the entrance when you see a farmer’s barn fully painted by artist Mark Benesh with the giant image of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.”

When you see the giant, American Gothic barn, you know you’re almost there.

A hidden gem (and challenging trails) along the Cedar River

Palisades-Kepler Park is bordered on one side by the Cedar River. This 840-acre park was first established in 1922 and expanded in 1928 when Mr. Kepler donated his estate and nearly doubled the park’s size. Palisades-Kepler offers nearly 6 miles of designated walking and hiking trails.

According to the State Park Map’s Trail information (click here for a PDF of the map), Overlook Trail and Woodland Trail are identified as Easy and Moderate respectively whereas the other four trails, Campers Trail, Cedar Cliff Trail, Cool Hollow Trail, and Lodge Trail are listed as Hard. On our walk, we did find some of the trails to be somewhat rugged as they wind their way through deep ravines and mature forest of black maple.

Kaia and I explored the Cedar Cliff Trail, but if you are up for a longer hike, try the 3.1-mile Loop Trail, (a combination of Cedar Cliff Trail, Cool Hollow Trail and Woodland Trail). This trail is listed as moderately challenging, but wear hiking boots and be prepared for some exercise. The entire loop takes about 1 ½ -hours to complete.

Kaia and I did not walk the entire loop but followed the Cedar Cliff Trail along the edge of the Cedar River. There are some fantastic views, as one stands on the bluffs and looks out over the river to the opposite shore. The day we were there an opaque mist lay suspended over the water, keeping secret, except for the occasional bump of an oar on the gunwale of their boat, some fishermen hoping for a bass or walleye to bite.

A perfect place to walk on two or four feet

Dogs are welcome at the park, but must be leashed (even when posing for a picture).

Dogs, of course, are welcome in the park but must be leashed. We abide by those rules, though Kaia sure did get excited and wanted to pull loose and run and play when she walked the sandbar with me and waded into the shallows in the newly thawed river waters. Her version of a spring polar plunge, of sorts.

I did my best to calm her and stop her from barking. We know you don’t make noise when someone is trying to fish! But when Kaia gets excited and so charged up from such freezing-cold, freshwater, all she could think about was trying to get me to join in the fun and appreciate just how invigorating that water was. Or, who knows, maybe she was reading me out for not first warning her and then my being so rude as to laugh.

Park amenities are plentiful

The park offers 45 campsites, some with electrical hookups, showers and restrooms, and four cabins that can be rented during the summer and fall. When entering the park and just past the sign for the park office is an area of ancient Indian burial mounds.

And in the exposed rock along the Cedar River, where once a molar tooth of a mammoth was found, one will find the perfect spot to search for fossils

Teri and Kaia had a great day exploring the trails at Palisades-Kepler State Park

An impressive limestone lodge built in the 1930’s by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, is available for weddings or reunions. Additionally, the park has two open picnic shelters.

If it’s fishing you seek, there are picnic tables and, near the old dam, there is a huge sandbar with a nearby boat ramp for easy water access.

A hike well worth the drive

Plan a trip to Palisades-Kepler State Park this spring and witness the variety of spring wildflowers and maybe, before all the trees leaf-out, see lots of birds and some whitetail deer or wild turkey on your hike.

Download a history of the park by clicking here.