Maquoketa Caves State Park
An Iowa park with more caves than any other in the state, most of them open to crawl through without a guide or a ticket.
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Around thirteen caves are accessible here in limestone bluffs above a creek, and the arrangement is unusual for the United States: rather than guided tours on paved walkways, most of these are open for visitors to enter freely, and several require crawling on hands and knees or squeezing through gaps. Dancehall Cave is the largest and has a lit boardwalk through it; the rest are unlit and a torch is required. A natural bridge stands about fifteen metres above the creek and a balanced rock of some seventeen tonnes sits nearby. The park has closed caves at times for white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease killing bats, and visitors are required to declare and decontaminate gear used in other caves.
What you actually see
- Around thirteen caves - most open to enter without a guide.
- Dancehall Cave - the largest, with a lit boardwalk.
- Crawling and squeezing passages - in the smaller caves.
- A natural bridge and balanced rock - above the creek.
When to go
April to October. Half a day.
Honest expectations
Most caves are unlit - bring a torch, and expect to get muddy. Caves have been closed for bat disease and gear decontamination is required. Passages are tight and not for the claustrophobic. Summer weekends fill the lot.
Nearby
Maquoketa is south-east; the Mississippi is east.
What to pack for Maquoketa Caves State Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
