Iowa's Yellow River State Forest

The state of Iowa offers many state parks with numerous outdoor activities.  Among these is the Yellow River State Forest.  Located in Harper's Ferry Iowa this state forest offers the outdoor enthusiast many opportunities for adventure.  Among these are camping, fishing, hiking horseback riding, hunting and mountain biking.  There are also numerous boating, canoeing and fishing access areas located on the Yellow River and the Upper Iowa River nearby.

• Camping - There are a total of 140 campsites spread throughout four different camping areas including 34 which are designated for equestrian use.
• Fishing - The Yellow River State Forest is home to seven miles of trout fishing fun for both beginning and experienced trout anglers.
• Hiking - There are a total of 45 miles of trails ranging from easy to moderate.  
• Horseback Riding - Among the 45 miles of trails are numerous multipurpose trails available for equestrian use.
• Hunting - There is a total of 8,900 acres of public hunting land available for use in the Yellow River State Forest.  Game that may be pursued includes deer, turkey, rabbits, squirrel, waterfowl and upland game birds.  With this much room to roam you should easily be able to find a spot where you won't be bothered by nor bother other hunters.
• Mountain Biking - Mixed throughout the 45 miles of trails are many trails for those who enjoy mountain biking with beautiful scenery.

For those not wanting to fish for trout, there are many places within ten miles of the Yellow River State Forest which allow public fishing on the Mississippi River.

For more information on the Yellow River State Forest check out the Iowadnr.gov website.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Tippecanoe River State Park Indiana

On of Indiana's State Park Gems is the Tippecanoe River State Park.  This 2,785 acre playground provides many outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy all types of activities.  Based on the name Tippecanoe, you can probably guess that one of the many activities available to experience is float trips.

The activities that are available in the Tippecanoe River State Park include:

• Boating - Private boats are able to be launched in the Tippecanoe River.
• Camping - There are 112 sites available with electricity, ten primitive camping sites and one group camping site with a maximum occupancy of 120 to 160 depending on the time of year.  Reservations can be made through Indiana's camping reservation website.
• Canoeing - This is one of the main attractions of the Tippecanoe River State Park.   
• Fishing - Fishing is permitted with a state fishing license.  Bass and bluegill are among the fish you are likely to catch.
• Hiking - There are ten designated hiking trails ranging in distance from .8 miles to 3.5 miles in length with 22.6 miles of trails in all.  These are a mixture of trails with ratings varying from easy to moderate.
• Horseback Riding is permitted on more than 14 miles of  designated trails. There are a total of 56 primitive sites available for those who wish to bring their horses along for the camping trip.

The Tippecanoe River State Park boasts access to seven miles of the Tippecanoe River offering ample room for boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.  Swimming in the Tippecanoe River is not allowed.

For a complete summary of the rules for this park check out the online brochure.

If you like this post you may also enjoy the Illinois Beaver Dam State Park.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day