Here you will see all the feddbacks of people like you who purchased the products and services of Maquoketa Caves State Park (Park) in Iowa area.
Nowadays this firm receives a score of 4.8 stars out of 5 and the rating has been based on 1126 reviews.
You may have noticed that its rating is virtually the top, and it's based on a large number of reviews, so we can conclude that the evaluation is very reliable. If there are many people who bothered to value when they've done well with the service, it works.
You know that we don't usually bother to set opinions when they are correct and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or issue...
This Park corresponds to the category of State park.
Great hiking spot for all sizes! My roommate and I took her little dog and he was able to make it up through a lot of the caves. The lush forests almost made me forget I was in Iowa. Best of all the entire thing was free, even parking.
Great state park. Highly recommend going. It's nice and cool inside the caves and it's a really great experience.
Pictures don't really do this park justice! Parking is very close to several trails, two of the trails are connected by a really cool cave. We didn't have time to explore all the trails but would love to come back to see the rest! Note that parts of the trails were muddy and a lot of stairs are involved.
Amazing, kid friendly parts and also caves to crawl through and explore. Bring a headlamp and helmet and be prepared to get dirty
Went here in a field trip and it was awesome! The trails to the caves are amazing. The caves are also really fun! If you're looking for an adventure, this is the place to go.
Caves are gorgeous, there is so much to see and for the most part it is easy to find everything. It is very easy to spend a whole day exploring, be prepared with a snack or something.
Great park, lots of neat things to see!
So amazing and larger than you'd think. Fun for the whole family!
Amazing. We were in the area to purchase something from Facebook marketplace and decided to visit. If all you have was 15 minutes it would be worth seeing what you can see. The ballroom spaces are epic. This space has the defined paths and the explore on your own options.
We loved the hiking and exploring! But in all my years I have never been treated so poorly by a campground host or a ranger! We had planned a little road trip this year well a few weeks ago I tried to reserve 2 spot here but they were booked as expected. I had someone come and pay for 2 spots for me because it was about a 5 hour drive from out previous location. They had spent more than 45 minute tracking someone down bc there were no papers left for the posts. I paid for 4 nights wed-sat and planned to leave sun. We talked to the ranger to see if it would be ok to pay for an extra night (Wednesday) and arrive thursday. A d he said that it would be ok. I arrive thur with both campers and someone had taken my card out of 1 spot set up camp even though I had already paid it took me an hour and a half to get ahold of the camp ground host who accused me of lying about paying rude af to me, I talked to the ranger a few hours later who told me I couldnt get a refund for that night and if he did refund my 16$ he would write me 110$ ticket for parking illegally! I WILL NEVER CAMP HERE AGAIN! I WAS BEYOND DISSAPPOINTED!!
Great caves to check out. Bring your walking shoes and don't get lost. Recommend a backpack with food and water. Hardly any phone reception in the woods.
I love it here. That's all there is to it.
So many caves and trails. Lots of fun for kids. Small campgrounds so plan ahead.
Hard to walk on slippery steps staff was informative and polite scenery was beautiful
This place is really cool We had a great time here
The largest cave right below the main area is breathtaking. Some of the others are so small you could miss them. My biggest problem here is the trails aren't marked well and neither are the caves for that matter. Lots of signs are small and not intact. I guess there's something to be said about it being free. Overall, a good experience but, could be great
It was really nice. We went a few years back and they have made a lot of new changes. Great family fun.
Really cool park. Campsites were nice, though definitely will book a more secluded site next time. Caves were thoroughly impressive, and trails and stairs made getting to each one pretty simple. Bring a headlamp to explore them more fully, and prepare to get wet!
The Caves are amazazing. You can see a lot of beautiful nature. And it is a wonderful family location
Wow super fun! We went at night, and that was a really good call. Go to Sundance!
Well loved state park. Great for hiking and exploring with kids
Most other caves are still accessible but there are some that you will need to hike to and even some that you can only enter if you crawl! We saw families going in fully prepared with head lamps. This space has the defined paths and the explore on your own options. The main caves are large, paved, and large enough for adults to stand in. Other caverns are quiet small and require crawling. What was THAT? Sounds like bats. You crawl over some trash since the caves seem to be the only trash receptacle in the park. Trails are very nice,but some less traveled trails have fallen trees across them in several spots.
This place has a magical, surreal quality to it. When we visited, we had the whole place to ourselves. We only saw 2 other people the entire time we were there. You enter into a cave system that takes you UNDER the earth, following a tiny creek. It drops you out into pristine decidious Forrest filled with animals. The caves are super easy to get to, and the trails are well groomed. And its FREE. this state park is absolutly amazing. I recommend it to everyone!
Really cool hidden treasure of Iowa. Many caves and you don't have to walk far to see them.
Very pretty area and worth the visit. For the more adventurous, there are caves to crawl in and through, but for the less adventurous there are still beautiful views and fun picture places.
This is really a cool spot you visit! You have to go get passes from the rangers in the main area where they will tell you what to expect and about the bats in the caves. The largest cave is the easiest to get to with stairs leading down. Most other caves are still accessible but there are some that you will need to hike to and even some that you can only enter if you crawl! We saw families going in fully prepared with head lamps. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice outdoor area to explore, but bringing a head lamp and clothes that can get muddy next time would make it even better. Go here!
Great if you like to walk and climb. The caves aren't real big but they are lighted. There are some you have to crawl through.
Beautiful views, nicely maintained trails. And if course, caves!
The views were amazing! Such a unique park with well maintained paths.
Beautiful place. Make sure you bring spray for mosquitoes if you dont wanna get eaten alive!
Beautiful park. Great place for family trip. Easy enough for kids but not accessible for strollers as there are a lot of stairs. The only complain is that trails and caves were not marked well.
It was really fun to be there and the caves were beyond this world. I really liked how u can go through some of the caves and explore it more and end up somewhere else at the end. I would really recommend visiting there I assure u it will be worth ur while.
Great place to visit if you like caves and hiking. It is a very popular place and can become a little crowded at times.
Fantastic time exploring nature. Well maintained facility. Multiple caves to explore, from walking thru to plan on getting muddy and crawling. Many locations for great pictures.
Incredible state park. Caves were awesome and the bluffs were beautiful. Camping areas are really nice. I will be back.
It was busy, but the caves were fun. Great for a visit.
Amazing! Caves 1-10 require climbing and wye cave is the most fun, it goes pretty deep. Caves 11-16 are for walking and dancehall is very pretty. Highly recommend!
This place if a great family place. There are trails for just about everyone, and places to explore if you dont want to stay on a trail. There are a few caves that a big. The Dance hall is the biggest. The Wye cave is definitely the most adventurous. If you can handle getting muddy and crawling through tight spaces, it's a very amazing experience. You'll for sure want to bring a flashlight, headlamp is best. Campground looks nice. One of the caves has an overlook above it. Its very high up, great few though.
It's beautiful! And fun for all ages! My boyfriend and I loved it and my 6 year old daughter loved it! The stairs are killer haha but it was so worth it!
Excellent weekend getaway! Hidden gem in Iowa.
Beautiful park! Guided tours available per website, but none found upon arrival and no info posted. Brochures with maps would be very useful. Trails are well maintained. Highly recommend.
Hidden gem - but not a secret. We made the trip for an afternoon on Sunday in early August - was amazingly busy. But everyone was friendly and courteous. Be sure to stop by the visitor center. On this day an older couple were the hosts. They did and excellent job telling us things to do and see. Short video to see and a history of the caves. The cave can be very dirty and muddy. So be prepared to be covered in mud and wet if you go in much. You can stay clean and dry - but do not count on it. There were bunches of families and friends and a lot of kids. Can be dangerous on some of the trails - we saw several falls including one teenager with what looked like a broken arm. You don't have to get hurt - just be very careful and smart
Very pretty and the staff is excellent. A lot to explore for all levels of experience.
This is a great little state park. Who thinks of caves when thinking about Iowa? These things don't seem to go together, but here they are! The caves are fairly small, but quite fun. Honestly, I think I enjoyed the nature trails and all the beautiful moss as much as the caves themselves. The whole park felt like it belonged in Scotland more than Iowa.
Great place to explore. Hiked about 9 miles total. Awesome and the best part....it's free. Great place for young kids and old kids. Unplug for a while and enjoy the outdoors....you will be glad you did.
Amazing place to visit and explore. Nice easy cave loops along with more difficult caves such as wye cave.
Beautiful area, amazing hiking, not enough tent camping spaces though
The Caves are a wonderful place to enjoy nature with a walk through the woods or caves. Don't forget to bring your grilling supplies! They have on site grills throughout the park for the public to use.
Fantastic State Park, amazing paths and steps to visit several huge caves. Unforgettable experience.
Beautiful state park. Easy to medium level hikes. Ice cave is the best! Upper dance hall cave is a must visit cave. Really exciting for kids and people of all age. The visitor center is right at the start where you take the turn for the state park. You can grab your map and complete the entire state park in 3-4hours easily. If you need a spot for camping it is advised to book it a week ago. Try not to wear very good/ clean tee shirts/clothes as you will get dirty visiting those tiny caves.
Friendly DNR staff with caves of varying skill level. We took our four young kids through the dance hall caves using the lighted sidewalk and they loved it! Wear shoes that can get wet and muddy.
Great place to spend family time and be outdoors. Kids love it
Amazing. Would recommend for spring and fall. Caves feel nice in the summer, but take a while to get to.
GREAT adventure...variety of caves. A spelunker and hikers delight. Some people had dogs, I wouldn't be comfortable taking a dog. Narrow passages, slippery surfaces would make more difficult with dog. I will be back.
Great place to spend some family time. Be prepared to get dirty if you explore the caves.
Beautiful, self guided cave tour, great place to climb and hike, loved it, will be back
Loved every minute of it. Kids had so much fun. Will go back again next year . It's now a tradition to go hiking out there.
Awesome place to get outdoors...going back!
Wow what a cool place, we will be back!
Had a great time, lots of caves to explore and great exercise!
I felt like Indiana Jones going through the caves. The trails were wide and easy to navigate.
Very clean park. Make sure to bring some clothes you don't mind getting dirty in as well as maybe a flashlight or headlamp. They are needed if you want to go into the caves and look around.
Best caves in the Midwest. Plan on getting muddy if you want to enjoy them all.
Maqouketa Caves State Park has to be the hidden gem of eastern Iowa. The park has a vast amount of different caves for everyone to enjoy. The main caves are large, paved, and large enough for adults to stand in. Other caverns are quiet small and require crawling. Plus there is many miles of trails, prairie grass, and picnic areas.
Be ready for a hike. Even the simple trails have a ton if stairs, great exercise, and fun to explore the cave systems.
Great place to camp and explore! Very friendly staff.
If you like the outdoors its a fun, easy and cheap way to spend a whole day with the family. But dont forget your flashlight...
Great place to take the kids. Trails are not super rough and make it easy to walk around the entire park. Grab a map when you first get there to make sure you make it to all the caves.
It's a Family tradition to go here we love it. Over the years I love it even more because it's fight before I go back to school so it gets me feeling better about school can't want to go again.
Make sure you bring appropriate clothing. It is wet and muddy. You may also want to bring a flashlight for some of the caves. Nice place to hike and enjoy nature.
The best park I ever visited I really liked and I love it
This park is a true gem! A wonderful set of trails through and around a fascinating cave system. A must-visit park!
Great, easy hiking and cave exploring for the whole family.
I was amazed at the caves here! I've lived in Iowa 8 years and never realized such a great bunch of caves was so close!
Awesome place to hike around and look at caves. Campground is a very nice place to spend the night. They show nightly kids movies
Nice little park with well maintained trails. Great place to spend a day hiking.
We try to take a family trip out here each year and love it!
Such an amazing place to camp & explore! We will be back! Rangers are fantastic and come around with creatures to show kids!
Even mobile great grandparents can have a great time at Maquoketa Caves. We spent 2 1/2 hours hiking on the trails. DNR staff and fellow kids and their parents were friendly and respectful. Ate at Bluff Lake Catfish restaurant nearby. What a treat! We'll be back!
Beautiful hike through an amazing cave system. The trail going through is easy. We brought a 2 year old, 9 year old and I’m 8 months pregnant. There are tougher caves to crawl through if you want. Also, very helpful staff at the welcome center and the lower pavilion. Best of all it’s free! Great family adventure on a Sunday afternoon.
Love Maquoketa Caves! Nice long canyon... Walk through Caves and some crawl thru for the more adventurous... Beautiful flora! Well developed with boardwalk over difficult areas. A great morning or afternoon!
Beautiful scenery. Numerous caves suitable for varying levels of experience. Well-maintained trails and helpful staff. Clean & orderly campground. Busy, since it's a popular attraction. A wristband is required to visit the caves which is only available on weekends. To get the wristband you just need to listen to a short lecture about how White Nose Syndrome affects the hibernating bat population and how to avoid spreading it.
Been years since I've been here but it's still amazing fun! The Wye cave is always my favorite. By far the best cave in the park!
The campsites were clean, had clean water an outlet and a campfire are with attached grill. The booking was easy and available on weekdays. The caves were marvelous!!
Very beautiful, convince parking, great cool weather in summer.
I'm from Florida and we do not have anything like this there. The caves are just amazing! The main one is well lit, but all of the minor ones requires you to bring your own headlamp. Water proof boots is a must unless you like slogging mile after mile with wet feet. The minor caves, which are unlit, give you a sense of adventure. Trails are very nice,but some less traveled trails have fallen trees across them in several spots. Wildlife includes many types of bird & owls, white tail deer, & varmints of all types (wood chuck, chipmunks, etc). Facilities are decent & well cleaned. Great place to bring your family.
Great place to camp and beautiful scenery. Just watch your head in the caves I'd reccomend a hard hat.
Great scenery easy access to all caves can view at own casual pace.
Plenty of places for great views. Bring plenty of water and a lunch and you could spend the whole day here. The camping spots are nice as well. There are so many small trails that you can explore for some great views.
Very beautiful. The caves were very cool to see. Only negative thing I have to say is the maps aren't the greatest. Each trail should be a different color so you know where you are at. But would highly recommend the trip.
A great place to go. Lots to see and learn. Friendly DNR members to help you and take you through the caves. A must stop by yourself or with your friends and family.
this is a great place to spend time getting dirty, suggest to visit when it's been dry
Awesome place to visit, been to the caves a few times over the years. Bring lights, boots, and a couple of pares of cloths. You should wear jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. The caves can be chilly. Never camped there but the camp grounds seem nice. Plan to spend all day there. So many caves to see and explore, the walks through the woods to the caves are just as enjoyable as the caves.
Hiking the trails and the caves was fun. The campsite is nice and quiet. Showers/restroom were good. Water from showers were cold to lukewarm. All in all we enjoyed our visit.
It's a cool place to go for an outing/hiking for a day. Get ready to experience ancient caves. I would suggest to carry adequate water bottles, food, a bug spray, sunscreen, sanitizer and a extra pair of clothes along with you, just in case.
This place is amazing. Although the caves weren't open, we could still hike in and enjoy the mouths of the caves. The snow made the area even more beautiful. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon hike.
So much fun! Be prepared to hike a lot and to get dirty,your exploring caves after all!
Lots of caves to explore I have been here many times. But every time the experience is very unique
Cool caves and really well done trails, easy for family hiking.
It's was an amazing experience! It was a fun time for everyone. I loved the water and sliding was fun.
Cool big caves, recomended, if your not clostrophobic.
The rangers are very kind and informative. The beautiful caves were amazing. We will be back!!
This was our family's first time and we just loved it. Our 10 yr.old daughter had so much fun finding all the caves she could. The river was nice and refreshing and the trail was very clean. Enjoy a day here if you can, pack a lunch and enjoy
Fantastic! Absolutely beautiful great stop but bring lots of water and dress for hot weather it gets crazy hot down in those caves.
Cave was great. Campsites seem small. Packed tight.
Excellent views if you get there early enough! Trails are decently marked, would recomend a flashlight for some of the caves!
This place is incredible. We went kind of in winter so we had to be super quiet. But we were the only ones here! Truly amazing how you can just walk through the caves by yourself. I will come back as soon as I can!
Absolutely beautiful! It’s a hidden gem that most people don’t know exists in Iowa. It’s well worth the trip, even from Des Moines. It’s a pretty easy hike with lots of small caves and couple big ones. Just the landscape is beautiful enough alone to make it worth while. It’s great for both kids and adults. I would advise to make sure you bring bug spray.
We can't get enough of this state park! The caves are small but a lot of fun for young kids, the trails are very fun, and the streams are fun to splash in. Just rember to bring your own flashlights!
My husband & I enjoyed walking through the big cave. Nice & cool on a hot day.
The caves were great...if you have not been to Maquoketa, expect a small park BUT the trail system is dotted with caves so you get a lot of sights to see...we tent camped and had a nice experience...tent sites were partly to mostly shaded...the sites look to accommodate medium and small camp trailers well... electric hookups available...there is a firewood hopper with donation box in the middle of the tent road...each site has a fire ring...rest room and shower area was clean on the tent road BUT I don't think they have hot water showers...you will freeze off what your momma gave you. Haha...
We had a great time! Fun for all ages.
Beautiful little treasure of a park. Kids love the caves.
Great place to camp. Look out for racoons though.
Follow the rules and keep it clean. Awesome place for family!
Really great camping! Clean bathrooms, staff came and checked up on us. They have free fire wood too!
For tourists like me and genuine spelunkers this park has it all. Come ready to crawl and get dirty or choose the "stand up" caves with hundreds of other less-adventurous types. This place is BUSY so be prepared to wait your turn at times. Iowa's natural beauty is carefully preserved and displayed well. A treasure!
Numerous trails and caves for various levels, some require crawling and head lamps. There is palace for camping, no staff when I visited. Bring good walking shoes, perhaps some gloves and be prepared to get wet. Nice place and surprising to find it in the middle of corn fields. Place was clean and well kept.
Great place to visit, but wear good shoes and visit a bathroom before you visit. The bathroom is very dirty!!
Very nice place to take the kids. Make sure you wear rubber boots or washable shoes.
I've been going here since I was a kid. This park has only improved over the years. It's beautiful with great trails.
Great caves to explore on your own. I would especially recommend the wye cave if your looking for a fun and difficult cave. Bring some spare clothes!
The caves are beautiful and best of all its free. Some days the DNR are there and they have different animals you can look at/hold.
Been here a few times but the day after a rain storm was spectacular. As wet as this year has been, the forest floor is teeming with life like I've not seen it before. Great caverns and caves to explore. Good hiking with well kept paths. A fun day for a solo hike or for the whole family.
Beautiful and easy hiking! Perfect for a day getaway with the family!
Been here 4 times now and have loved it every time. Completely worth the 3 hour (one way) trip to get there!
Love all the trails to hike on, and love all of the caves. I was able to take my dog there, amd we both enjoyed splashing in the river and going along the trails.
If your in to crawling around in caves, or light walk thru them very scenic
A great family friendly location. Expect a lot of hiking if you wish to see it all. If you are looking for adventure bring some spare clothes and prepare to get dirty as there is a lot that you can do.
Awesome place for hiking and cave exploring! More intense and adventurous than we thought it would be!
We had a great time. We were there about 3 hours. It is a good workout going up and down a lot of steps. The kids enjoyed crawling in the caves and up on the outcroppings
Beautiful. Perhaps because there are so few other unadulterated preserves in Iowa. I use unadulterated loosely. The stairs, railings, light posts etc. make the experience feel more commercial than organic. Carry in carry out is an approach that begs to be abused. Really? No trash receptacles? Found myself picking up others garbage.
We love this place. The caves are great and the trails are good. We didn't get to make.it through all the trails but we will definitely go back to finish.
The park staff does a really good job on helping you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Loved Maquoketa Caves. Trails were easy for anyone and exploring the Caves were really fun. Camp site was great!
Very cool place. Lots of trails to hike camping is cheap and very nice layout of the campground. I visited in April and it was quiet the bats were in hibernation so I was unable to go into the caves but even without that part of the visit there was a lot to see.
Great park and beautiful but all trails not so clearly marked
Great place to visit! Kids loved it. Caves you can explore on your own. No 'no touch' rules.
This place is awesome. My 6 month pregnant wife and I took our little kids ages 2 and 4. Plenty of fun stuff to see and do. This place is a hidden treasure. Bring a flashlight for each kid (makes it more fun for them). There is pretty good lighting if you don't remember the flash lights. This park is probably ideal for kids 5+ due to the damp nature of the rock paths. We held the kids hands alot but it was worth it for the views! There are areas where if you really wanna see more caves you can crawl around, but most of the park is walkable. The caves a nice and cool in a hot day! If I could give 6 stars I would!
I recommend this place for all families. It was a great adventure. Kids loved it. And the caves are really neat!
A lot of the trails are physically demanding, but the scenery is a great sight to see.
As you duck into the cave you feel the spiderwebs begin to strangle you. You sink to your knees as the ceiling gets lower and the spiders closer. The spiders are still very close to your head so you began to crawl on your belly. The cave narrows and becomes VERY dark...... What was THAT? Sounds like bats. You crawl over some trash since the caves seem to be the only trash receptacle in the park. There's that noise again...... Whoa! Its actually mice...lots of them.... You began to retreat...but wait which way is out?
Really cool, literally cold on 100°f day
There was a very polite young lady today telling everyone about white nose syndrome. Thank you to her and everyone at the park who make it what it is. Great place to camp or visit with the whole family.
Fun place to hike with the kids and experience the caves & a prairie.
Very fun and you can get a lot of steps in. Some caves are very cool in temperatures. Some you have to crawl and get your feet wet so wear appropriate shoes for them.
Very neat place to visit! Well maintained trails for new and experienced hikers. Some trails require very little effort to get into the caves while others include a mud bath!
So my next adventure in Iowa took me Maquoketa caves state park. This is a cavern system along a trail that goes in and out of different "caves". Most of the caves are about 20ft deep 20ft tall and 15ft wide. There are about 15 different caves along the trail that you can pop in and out of. There was one called ice cave that is about 60 degrees and yes I chose the hottest day of the summer to climb up qnd down this trail. It put the beat on me and made me realize I need to get up and get moving more back home. This park usually get about 1500 people on a Saturday so your gonna have lots of people to deal with. Everyone I ran across was friendly and courteous Bring water and a flashlight to go in some of the deeper caverns that I saw the boy scouts crawling through. By the way prepare to get filthy if you crawl through some of the areas
The caves are beautiful! The area is not stroller friendly (just a head's up) but it's great for a mini hike! The views are definitely worth it.
So much to explore. Great outdoors experience.
Very nice place where you can see real caves. Some good stairs to reach them, just lovely to visit and enjoy the big trees around the caves.
Fantastic park! Amazing views you would never expect in the Midwest. Climbs are somewhat difficult so if you are not fit take your time and bring lots of water. Recommend good shoes no flipflops. Plan for 3 hours. Very worth the adventure.
A great day's adventure! Very peaceful and nice exercise. We love the caves!
Nice and interesting park with many caves. If you decide to visit it, be prepared to crawl through narrow caves. Flashlight, long pants hiking boots are recommended for everyone who wants to enjoy all the caves in the park.
I have been going here for over 35 years. It is still a lot of fun, though they have restricted the areas more than when I was a kid.
It was very clean and trails and caves were so much fun I will be back
Had a great time. Looked like a big storm came through and knocked down a bunch of trees but they had the paths pretty well cleaned.
Good time. Good trails and paths. Great place to explore with kids. Parking areas were packed the day we were there, still a good experience.