(Muscatine, IA): Wildcat Den State Park is one of the most unique state parks in Iowa. Located just south of the QCA, it is a fantastic park for the entire family.
The park features several historic structures. The 1848 Pine Creek Gristmill and Pine Mill Bridge are both on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pine Creek Grist Mill is the oldest working grist mill between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. Whether you’re looking to explore history or enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors, Wildcat Den State Park is the ideal destination.
Hike
The park is also known for its incredible 75-foot cliffs, bluffs, rock formations and caves. Wildcat Den has lots of great picnic areas and tons of trails to explore. Trails wind through a variety of terrain, leading to geological formations along the trail’s sandstone bluffs.
You can hike one of the diverse trails at Wildcat Den, offering fascinating views of sandstone bluffs and natural formations such as “Steamboat Rock,” and the “Devil’s Punch Bowl.” Trails are best during the peak of summer and fall when the season’s colors illuminate the park’s surroundings!
Explore
The 19th century Pine Creek Grist Mill located on Pine Creek in the eastern part of the park. The mill was built by Benjamin Nye in 1848 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is also home to the “turn of the century” one-room Melpine schoolhouse. The mill is open for tours to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from June to August, and is open weekend afternoons in May and September. Visit www.pinecreekgristmill.com for more information about interpretive programs and history of the mill.
Location
1884 Wildcat Den Road – Muscatine, IA
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