Trails
Expect long downloads because of pictures
Middle River County Park is located 1 mile south of Winterset on County Road P-71 with the entrance of the park directly across the highway from the Board Operations Center building. Middle River Park is 80 acres of primarily woodlands made up of giant Cottonwood, Hackberry, Silver Maple and Walnut trees that grace the lower picnic grounds and group shelter facility, gradually giving way in the upper elevations to beautiful stands of native Black Maples and eventually our majestic trademark Red Oak, White Oak and Shag Bark Hickory forest.
Hiking & Cross Country Skiing: Park visitors use both the hard surfaced trail system as well as the park road system to hike through the park and the adjoining Winterset City Park to the north. During winter season, road system is closed and utilized as a cross-country ski trail system connecting to the road system in the adjacent Winterset City Park to provide for over 3 miles of wind-protected ski trails.
INFORMATION
Hiking is a year round activity in our Madison County Parks
Hanson Prairie Preserve, a 30 acre tall-grass prairie, is located 4 miles northeast of Winterset. The public is encouraged to come and explore the ecosystem that once covered over 90 percent of the State of Iowa.
Walking Trail: Trail encircles the prairies on both sides of Cedar Creek.
Goeldner Woods is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Earlham in the northwest corner of Madison County. One of the most unique aspects of Goeldner Woods is the annual spring woodland wildflower display. Due to cool north facing woodland slopes and rich virgin soils, this area explodes into pastel color tones as the forest floor literally is blanketed with millions of wildflower blooms. Over 60 species of woodland flowers have been identified.
Hiking & Cross Country Ski Trails: Trails meander through the entire park. The upper loop (approximately 1/2 mile) is located adjacent to the picnic grounds and remains primarily on level ground in the upper elevations of the park. The lower loop trail system (1 1/2 miles) explores the side slopes and river bottom timber and traverses steeper gradients. The wide variety of spring time woodland wildflowers makes this an “must see” area in late April and early May.
Fellowship Forest is located approximately 4 miles southwest of Winterset in the southwest quarter of Madison County. This 60 acre park is primarily upland hardwood forest, with some bottom land timber adjacent to a beautiful limestone ledged creek that flows the entire length of the park.
Hiking & Cross Country Ski Trails: Trails meander through the west half of the park. Trail head is located on the north end of the pond dam. The trail is approximately 1 mile in length remains fairly level throughout. A good variety of spring time woodland wildflowers makes this a good area to explore in late April and early May. A small creek cascades through the limestone geology of the park creating a number of small waterfalls and exposing handsome layers of limestone, shale, slate and other unique rock formations. Visitors will need to abandoned the groomed trail system to explore the unique ecology of the creek.
Criss Cove is located approximately 8 miles south of Winterset.
Hiking Trail: Trail circles through the west half of the park providing a convenient connection between the campground area and the pond. Trail loops through the southwest corner of the park taking visitors through Cedar stands and the beginnings of a natural regeneration of native grasses and wildflowers. The trail is approximately 1/4 mile in length.
Clanton Creek is located approximately 3 miles southeast of East Peru. This 715 acre wildlife area is primarily upland oak/hickory forest with terrain that varies from gently rolling to steep ravines. Other habitats present are ridge top tall-grass prairies, small wetlands, wildlife food plots, and cool season nesting grasslands with 15 year old tree plantings.
Hiking, Nature Study & Photography: A four mile trail system transects this entire wildlife area. Trail markers are set every 1/4 mile providing the user with a good measure of distance traveled. Trail heads are located in the Deer Creek Unit parking lot and east parking lot of the Clanton Unit. The trail traverses a multitude of gradients, and would require a hearty traveler approximately two to three hours to complete. No form of motorized or equestrian transportation is allowed on the trail. Pedestrian uses only.
Pammel Park is located 4 miles southwest of Winterset.
Hiking & Cross Country Skiing: Three trail systems provide a wide variety of adventure for users. The Backbone Trail explores the geology of the limestone ridge and overlooks Middle River. The Lodge Trail explores the qualities of woodlands and introduces the users to gigantic Walnut and Hackberry trees in the river flood plain and stately Oaks in the upland areas. The interpretive trail is open but currently undergoing renovation to update the interpretive sites.
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