Interrupted by a firm knock on the camper's door, I looked out to see a park ranger waiting outside. By late afternoon I was able to enjoy my Airstream Basecamp's air conditioning, reading and relaxing. I added mine and then spent some time erecting two awnings to help with the sun and heat after the usual leveling and unhitching routine. I arrived and walked through the lower park of the modern South Campground, the 30-amp section, and found a non-reserved site with an old tag still attached to the site-numbered post. I was correct in that assumption-but there is a story attached to that choice. Whether you’re an adrenaline seeker or just wanting to get outdoors for the day, Backbone State Park has something for everyone.'Īrriving on a Thursday morning without a reservation, I felt confident that I'd be able to land a non-reserved site for my stay. Take a walk through history by checking out the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) museum, explore the rugged 21-mile multi-use trail system or fish in some of Iowa’s best trout streams. The steep and narrow ridge of bedrock from the Maquoketa River forms the highest point in northeast Iowa - The Devil’s Backbone - giving the park its legendary name. 'Dedicated in 1920 as Iowa’s first state park, Backbone State Park is one of the most geographically unique locations in Iowa. The park, according to the DNR website, has something for everyone, from bold climbs to relaxed outings. Four days of exploring wasn't quite enough to hit all the sites in this 2,001-acre state park, especially with Backbone State Forest adding an additional 186 acres of recreation opportunity at the NE corner of the park. I opted to camp at Backbone for only four days, not really enough, but another heat wave was sweeping the Midwest, and a humid 97 degrees was a good reason to head home and water the garden. Missed by the glaciers of the last ice age, this part of Iowa has a geography much different than the rest of Iowa. Those are good memories, and I wanted to return to Backbone State Park, Iowa's first state park, and explore and experience more deeply this sanctuary in NE Iowa's Driftless Area. I remember wading a pebble-bottomed stream, ankle deep and crystal clear, and I remember hiking the 'backbone' ridge with my son's schoolmates on a classroom campout, raccoons in the night and owls.

Backbone state park