I'll be going to Waterloo, Iowa in a week for some work, and am looking for any recommendations for places to go shoot nature "stuff" for a day or so. I'll have a car, but would prefer to stay within a 2 hour drive (one-way) from Waterloo, if possible. It's my first visit to Iowa, so everything would be new. Any seasonal wildflower displays, etc.? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks,
dave smaldone
Dave, it's been awhile since I went to Iowa and I have not been here, though I did hear it's nice. The Skunk River outside of Ames runs through a nice area too. (Can't help with the name as that was my freshman year @ Iowa State, too much liquid fun) and too many years ago to count! Good Luck, Bruce http://www.fws.gov/midwest/NealSmith/index.html
One nice area runs from Dubuque on the Mississippi River north to as far as you might want to go - bluffs, river, etc. In Dubuque, there's also the National Mississippi River Museum that's pretty cool... Almost across the river is Galena, IL which is very picturesque, a nice place to take your significant other. And, there's a Tom Mangelsen gallery there, too, the last that I knew...
The Iowa River in the vicinity of Decorah is beautiful. There are some very nice bluffs NW of Decorah, just north of Bluffton, Iowa (wow, what a coinkydink!)
Also, there's a nature center just to the east of Cedar Rapids, but I can't recall the name.
Also consider checking out The Nature Conservancy's website for Iowa, to see what they might have. I remember a hanging bog, likely on TNC lands, in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, but can't begin to tell you where it is.
Near Maquoketa, there's Maquoketa Caves State Park...
I lived in Iowa City for about five years and visited many of these places, and now live in Madison...
Dave, I live 30 miles south of dubuque and everything tim said would be my advice, most of my nature shots come from a place called Green Island Iowa, very secluded between Bellvue Ia and Sabula Iowa..
Doesnt matter wich way you go from dubuque, up stream or down theres alot to shoot along the mississippi river in these areas
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3 repliesdave smaldone
One nice area runs from Dubuque on the Mississippi River north to as far as you might want to go - bluffs, river, etc. In Dubuque, there's also the National Mississippi River Museum that's pretty cool... Almost across the river is Galena, IL which is very picturesque, a nice place to take your significant other. And, there's a Tom Mangelsen gallery there, too, the last that I knew...
The Iowa River in the vicinity of Decorah is beautiful. There are some very nice bluffs NW of Decorah, just north of Bluffton, Iowa (wow, what a coinkydink!)
Also, there's a nature center just to the east of Cedar Rapids, but I can't recall the name.
Also consider checking out The Nature Conservancy's website for Iowa, to see what they might have. I remember a hanging bog, likely on TNC lands, in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, but can't begin to tell you where it is.
Near Maquoketa, there's Maquoketa Caves State Park...
I lived in Iowa City for about five years and visited many of these places, and now live in Madison...
Tim!
Doesnt matter wich way you go from dubuque, up stream or down theres alot to shoot along the mississippi river in these areas