My final destination for the day was at Big Springs Nature Park in Guttenberg, Iowa. From Hazel Green, Wisconsin I followed IA-3 and US-52 along what they call the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The drive itself is pretty fun and shows the Iowa side along the Mississippi but often times goes inland. Either way still a good scenic drive that makes the trip even more fun. Access to Big Springs is very easy just a short distance off the highway, and late at night on a rainy saturday I had the place entirely to myself.
At the parking lot, there is one informational sign detailing the Driftless Area and detailing other points of interest in the area.
From here you can take a trail either to the right or left. Here’s what the left path looks like – and basically this is the entire trail. I tried this first only because I parked closer to that side of the lot and thought it was the main trail. Definitely stay to the right path though, it is the main trail.
From the parking area you can already see lots of small little leges and rocks, and it gets more interesting as you move upstream. There is also a pavillion at the trailhead and a port-o-toilet so this wouldn’t be a bad spot for a small picnic.
At the single bend of the creek there are about five small rocks causing five small drops for a total of about five feet elevation change.
Here you can see almost clear to the top of the creek where the spring originates.
This is the view from my failed venture up the left-hand path before I nearly fell into the water and hopped across the rocks to the right side. The only part which is better is you can see the steps atop the right path.
And here’s the equal or better view from the right-hand path which is what I should have taken to begin with. Again, just stick to the right path.
Another closer view from the right path to show more detail. Lots of small gradual drops and tiny shelves, then a few larger cascades down big rocks at the top.
After climbing up top and looking back down, here is the single largest vertical drop. The moss and small shrubs are popping up fast now that spring has arrived.
Here’s the end of the trail at the spring’s origin…in a way. Up higher there are some additional fantastic geological features but I was running out of daylight so I didn’t practice falling off the rocks today.
Here is the source of the spring…wait, really? Not sure what is going on here but there is a decent amount of water cascading down, but also there is water coming out of a pipe embedded in concrete. Maybe the stream used to come from up higher and is now diverted both naturally and by the man-made aparatus?
One final look at those rock layers above the spring. Just imagine – this was all part of the ocean floor millions of years ago. Thankfully this is still part of the Driftless Area so it wasn’t paved over by glacial activity and now we get to enjoy it. Anyways…time to return to camp for the night, a few more adventures await tomorrow before the weekend journey is over.
Hiking Data
As you can see from my recorded track I mistakenly took the left path to start and quickly realized the folly of my ways. Luckily the stream is low so I didn’t get wet feet crossing, but to do it again I’d just stay on the right path. Nothing special to see from the left side anyways.
Not much of a hike, round trip is only 1/3 of a mile. Low effort and high reward.
