Fayette County: River Landscapes, Trails, and History

Fayette County lies at the beginning of the Driftless Area in northeastern Iowa. The Turkey River, wooded areas, springs, and historic sites shape the region’s varied character. You can plan your outings around the landscape, type of trail, or history: from views over the valley to woodland trails, buildings, and exhibits.

Landscape and Water

Dutton's Cave Park covers 46 acres of old-growth forest, with several springs and a cold-water stream. The cave in the park is closed to protect bats from White-Nose Syndrome. Frog Hollow Lake in the Volga River State Recreation Area is a man-made 138-acre lake with a diverse fish population. These offer nature lovers two distinctly different landscapes: forest and springs define the terrain at Dutton's Cave Park, while Frog Hollow Lake is shaped by the lake and its variety of fish. The Volga River State Recreation Area also has 22 miles of multi-use trails.

Trails in the County

At Echo Valley State Park, a two-mile nature trail winds through the park. Gilbertson Park offers nearly 10 miles of wooded trails for hikers, non-motorized cyclists, and horseback riders; the park covers 1,000 acres along the scenic banks of the Turkey River near Elgin. A paved bike trail connects Gilbertson Park’s modern campground with the Gilbertson Nature Center. The Turkey River Recreation Corridor also features a 6.8-mile paved trail from the Gilbertson Nature Center to the access point at Nim's Bridge. With its 22 miles of multi-use trails, the Volga River State Recreation Area offers another scale of trail network. Fayette County Conservation offers more than 20 miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and water trails.

History and Exhibits

Montauk Historic Mansion was the home of Governor William Larrabee. Montauk Historic Site includes grounds and trails with views across the Turkey River valley. Echo Valley State Park is home to numerous historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The Fayette County Historical Center features exhibits on local and county history, as well as the military, agriculture, health care, and advertising. The Gilbertson Nature Center includes the Mavis and Conner Dummermuth Historical Building, which houses hundreds of agricultural and household antiques. The Gilbertson Nature Center also offers a certified outdoor playground, a four-acre pond, Iowa animals, and a live bee colony.

Views of the River Landscape

Goeken Park offers wide-ranging views across the Turkey River valley and of Eldorado. Gouldsburg Park sits at the scenic confluence of the Little Turkey River and Crane Creek; its trails run along the river and through the woods. The two parks offer different experiences: Goeken provides the views, while Gouldsburg features the confluence and trails along the river and through the woods.

Discover more destinations: Oelwein, Black Hawk, Jones County, Harrison County, Lee County, Madison County, Fremont County, Louisa County

For the main travel overview: Iowa.