Ledges State Park
Ledges State Park is a 1,200-acre park established in 1924 and that is located in Boone County, Iowa near Boone City. To get to the park, just travel six miles south of Boone, off IA 164. The features that make this park unique and popular include sandstone ledges/cliffs, several unique plant species, and a heavily wooded river valley.
The Ledges State Park has several trails and looping roads that offer picturesque views of the ‘canyon’ and the Des Moines River and the Des Moines River Valley. The ‘canyon’ is a sandstone gorge that is 100 feet deep and has concretions on its sides that look like ledges.
The geography at the park includes sandstone cliffs that are the remnant of a prehistoric sea that covered the Midwest about 300 million years ago. The cliffs resulted from glacial activity that occurred more recently (13,000 years ago) during melting that occurred after the last ice age.
The main activities that can be enjoyed at the Ledges State Park include hiking, camping, fishing, and canoeing. These water-based activities can be done in the Des Moines River (the river flows through the western edge of the park). Amenities at the park to facilitate these activities include modern restrooms, showers, a playground, several campsites (with and without electrical hookups), open picnic shelters, interpretive trail, and hiking trails.
The Ledges State Park also offers a lot of opportunities for you and your pooch to enjoy your time at the park together. With that said, there are some expectations and regulations that you will need to abide by if you want to have an enjoyable time with your dog. For example, you are not allowed to let your dog wander around in the park unattended to.Â
Furthermore, keeping your dog on a leash that is no longer than six feet long is a must. When you are not using a leash, your dog must be kept in a secure enclosure. Additionally, if you choose to camp at the park, you should know that you are only allowed to have a maximum of two dogs per yurt, cabin or camping tent.
