Discover Clinton County

Clinton County brings together a variety of nature and cultural experiences. Eden Valley Park and Preserve covers 201 acres along Bear Creek. Limestone bluffs and wooded hills shape the landscape, which is home to numerous plant and animal species. Visitors looking to explore natural areas will find a contrast here with venues that focus on a particular activity or collection.

Parks, trails, and distinctive landscapes

Malone Park has a 9-acre lake where visitors can fish and swim. The park also includes a wetland and a 12-hole disc golf course. This makes it possible to tailor a visit to different interests, without limiting the offerings to a single activity.

The Castle is located in Eagle Point Park. The Castle is a stone tower built by the WPA in the 1930s. A stone spiral staircase leads to an observation platform. Eagle Point Park Disc Golf Course is a par-60 course along the north entrance to Eagle Point Park. The trails at the south entrance to Eagle Point Park wind for about 3 miles through wetland, forest, and prairie habitats.

Bickelhaupt Arboretum focuses on woody plants and wildlife observation. This 15-acre outdoor museum features more than 600 conifer cultivars. A monarch butterfly observation station and a bird area complement the collection. This sets the arboretum apart from parks where the lake, trails, or sports facilities play a larger role.

Cruise the Mississippi with naturalists

The Blue Heron Eco Cruise travels through backwaters, oxbow lakes, and the main channel of the Mississippi. Naturalists lead the tours, making the river landscape the setting for an outing on the water. Public cruises are free; capacity is limited and reservations are required. Check the reservation details before planning your trip.

The Clinton Showboat Theatre offers another perspective on the river landscape: This professional summer theater is located on the banks of the Mississippi in Iowa and stages classic productions aboard a 75-year-old Mississippi riverboat. Clinton Area Showboat's educational programs are for young people from Clinton. They introduce them to theater arts both as performers and as attentive audience members.

The history of lumber and theater

The Sawmill Museum tells the story of the American sawmill, lumber, and forestry industries through Clinton's lumber history. Interactive exhibits bring various aspects to life, including a lumber camp, a water table with floating logs, a video game about riding a log raft, and animatronic lumber barons.

The collections add tangible objects to these themes. On display are lumber-finishing equipment from the 1900s, various saws and lumberjack tools, and objects from local sawmills. Curtis furniture and equipment from a fire station dating to around the turn of the century broaden the view to other aspects of regional history.

Vineyard and grape varieties

Wide River Winery's Clinton location includes a 16-acre vineyard. Red and white grape varieties suited to a cool climate are grown there. Tours of the winery and vineyard offer a chance to learn about local winegrowing. Dates may change; check the schedule before making plans.

Things to do in Clinton County may include exploring natural areas and trails, taking a river cruise, enjoying theater, and learning about the history of lumber.

Places in Clinton County

Explore more places: DeWitt, Clinton.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Carroll, Clay County, Grundy County, Howard County, Pottawattamie, Muscatine County.

View the main travel guide: Iowa.