Looking for memorable day trip? Then a visit to Wildcat Den State Park should be in your near future!
Directions
Located about 10 miles east of Muscatine, Iowa, Wildcat Den State Park includes a campground, several picnic areas, a small playground, and some very exciting hiking opportunities!
Taking Highway 22 east from Muscatine or Highway 22 west from Davenport will provide a bonus scenic drive along the mighty Mississippi, providing plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the small towns and river views!
From Highway 22, you’ll take Wildcat Den Road north to get to the Pine Creek Grist Mill area. A great place to stop and check out the mill, dam and bridge, and one-room Melpine Schoolhouse! The mill is open for tours during the summer months, for more information and hours please visit: http://www.pinecreekgristmill.com/
Main Entrance
Taking New Era Road from the mill area will get you to the main entrance of the park. The campgrounds will greet you to the east and to the west you can spot the entrance to the Park Boundary Trail(1)! This beautiful trail will take you around the west boundary of the park along some farmland and also through some beautiful forested areas!
Past those points of interest will be the Upper Picnic Area with the several parking locations, a small playground, and many picnic tables available to use! Past the main parking area are two smaller parking areas where the Punch Bowl Trail(3) and Canyon Ridge Trails(4) begin.
Continuing along the park’s main road and you’ll come to the north entrance/exit of the park. Taking the turn right before the entrance/exit will bring you into the Lower Picnic Area where you can find the Lower Picnic Area Trail(2), the Canyon Ridge Trail(4), and the Mill Traill(5). This area and these trails also provide access to Pine Creek, where you can almost always find children and dogs playing in the shallow waters!
A Tale of Two Trails
It can be helpful to imagine that the park’s main road separates the park into two sections. The Park Boundary Trail(1) winds through the tall trees and along the adjacent farmland to the West of the main road. The Campground Trail(3), Canyon Ridge Trail(4), and Punch Bowl Trail(6) East of the main road will have you walking along , and sometimes through, the limestone cliffs and additional geological features! This path also travels along Pine Creek, and you’ll almost always find some kids and dogs playing in the shallow water!
