Exploring Another Iowa Hidden Gem: Jackson County’s Pine Valley

I love exploring and hiking all across our beautiful state of Iowa. In that regard, it's also been a pleasure to share these many amazing locations with you. But in all honesty, it's my wife who is the real treasure hunter when it comes to my family's adventures.

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In fact, it's my wife who continues to surprise me with a vast amount of hidden gems our natural area of the Driftless Region provides. Many of them are close to home, and I never knew they existed. Additionally, sometimes being a bit cold or uncomfortable is worth the views and experiences you gain. Like this weekend, when my wife chose a locale we knew of, but often overlooked, as other attractions off the same road include Buzzard Ridge near Canton, Iowa, or the ever-popular Maquoaketa Caves.

Read More: Explore Iowa’s State Park with the Largest Concentration of Caves

Yes, the temperatures flirted with the idea of being warm, so on a deceivingly cool 28-degree day, my wife dragged me from my hobbit-hole on the couch to get some much needed excercise. Good thing too, since I put down my weight in bbq meatballs during the Super Bowl. Our latest adventure would take us to another beautiful driftless locale, hidden in the "middle of nowhere," Jackson County, called Pine Valley Nature Area.

Tucked away just north of Monmouth, Pine Valley Nature Area spans 676 acres of high-quality woodlands, making it one of the most diverse natural areas in Jackson County. The preserve is home to some rare plants and wildlife, has archaeological significance,  and an extensive trail system that winds through rugged Driftless terrain. With miles of lightly maintained hiking trails and open hunting access, it's easy to visit as well.

The well-maintained loop trail saw us take in just over 3 miles with some slight off-trail exploring. The first third of our hike included beautiful views of limestone and dolomite bluffs, which gave way to a small, fully frozen creek, one that empties into the all to familair Maquoketa River.

As we continued to explore this canyon-like area, the bluffs gave way to several overhangs, one large enough to be considered a cave. It was the perfect place to stop for a canteen of hot chocolate.

The cave-like outcropping also showed various fossilisations, most likely coral formations from Iowa's ancient watery past.

Few things are as enjoyable as a good drink and good company on a beautiful day outdoors, even if the cave rocks were quite chilly to sit on.

After finishing up our hot chocolate, we proceeded across a couple of bridges. It was extremely interesting to see that several animals had taken to using the frozen creek as a sort of walking path. In fact, I was sure one set of paws came from a bobcat. That's a definite possibility as their numbers continue to increase across the state.

Our hike ended with a walk through your typical Iowa prairie. Hunters obviously frequent the locale as several spent shells littered the trails. This area is very clearly abundant with both deer and small game for conservationists and hunters alike to enjoy.

So there you have it, another beautiful Iowa hidden gem to explore. If you're curious about the trail we took, you can check out our path and stats from the hike (above) and then explore the locale for yourself. There seemed to be at least 3 other hikes and several paths off the main trail, so a return visit is in order for us this spring. If you're curious about what else our local area has to offer, keep scrolling for more Iowa adventures. And here's to the next adventure, my fellow Tri-State travellers.