One of Iowa’s Best Views Is Just Minutes from the Parking Lot
Iowa isn't usually the place you think of for stellar views, bluffs, and forests, but that's exactly what our driftless region serves up. In fact, I'm a bit spoiled as on of Iowa's only three canyons can be found basically in my backyard of Cascade.
If you didn't know, I am yet again talking about Whitewater Canyon in Dubuque County. I head there often and for good reason. It's my main place to forage as blackberries, gooseberries, and even black cap raspberries are readily available. Then there are the mushrooms. I have seen many people take bags of morels out of the woods here, but haven't had much luck myself. That doesn't mean I go home empty handed as there is an abundant supply of golden oyster mushrooms here. They're great for soups, stir-fries, or even on top of a burger smothered in Swiss cheese. Yum! But I digress...
My latest trip to one of my favorite places was to test some new video equipment for my family's upcoming trip to Wyoming. It's our hope to summit Medicine Bow Peak, part of the snowy range near the town of Centennial. The latest edition to our tech arsenal is a high-def 360 camera, and naturally the best place to test it out is one with some epic views of its own; like Whitewater Canyon.
As it turns out, Whitewater Canyon was the perfect testing ground. The overlook trail is one of the easiest hikes in the area, and from the parking lot it's only a short prairie-walk before the trees begin and lead up to the overlook.
I've probably made this walk dozens of times over the years. Usually, I've got one or more of the kids with me. Sometimes we're carrying containers for berries. Other times we're looking for mushrooms, wildlife, or making our way toward Lost Canyon and the Valley of 13 Caves. This trip was a little different though. It was just Ashley and I enjoying a quiet evening outdoors while putting the new camera through its paces.
Read More: Iowa Hidden Gem — Exploring the Valley of 13 Caves
One thing I appreciate about Whitewater is that it doesn't demand much from visitors. You don't need to dedicate an entire day to enjoy one of the best views in Dubuque County. In just a few minutes, you can find yourself standing above a sprawling valley of forests and limestone cliffs that feel more at home in Wisconsin than Iowa.
The overlook itself sits atop a bluff that rises roughly 200 feet above the canyon below. From there you can see Whitewater Creek as it winds through the valley. Depending on the time of year, you'll likely spot deer, buzzards, hawks, and eagles circling overhead, and about a billion rabbits.
This visit was less about wildlife and more about scenery. The camera performed well, especially when capturing the sweeping views from the overlook. That is one of the advantages of a 360 camera. Instead of choosing a single direction to point the lens, it captures everything around you.
Of course, technology can only do so much. The real star of the show remains the canyon itself. Whether it's berry or mushroom season, peak fall colors, time for fishing, hunting, or kayaking, maybe even a mid-winter adventure, whitewater canyon manages to reveal things I missed before. That's probably why I keep coming back.
The video from our trip is included above and does a much better job of showing the scale of the overlook than any photograph can. If you've never made the short walk out to Whitewater Canyon's scenic overlook, it might be time to change that. Some of Iowa's best views are hiding in plain sight, and I'm trying to see them all. This one just happens to be in my neck of the woods, and only a few minutes from the parking lot.
Photos: Whitewater Canyon in Bernard, Iowa
Gallery Credit: Tom Drake
Hiking Trails and Nature near Dubuque, Iowa
Gallery Credit: Tom Drake