Backbone State Park

"At Backbone State Park, elevation-starved Iowans love Backbone Trail, a rocky ridge high above Backbone Lake with a string of knee-knocking overlooks. The trail alone is worth a visit, but Backbone is actually a nice all-around park (55 miles west of Dubuque), with canoe rentals, a popular trout stream, and a handful of pleasant cabins. “Backbone is our flagship state park—there's something really magical about Backbone,” says Kathryn Hund, program planner and park manager at Cedar Rock State Park. “You can melt into the creeks and spaces and lose yourself in the geography of the park"