Dolliver Memorial State Park

Dolliver Memorial State Park is a wooded nature preserve featuring tall sandstone cliffs, narrow ravines, and thick forest cover along the Des Moines River. The terrain offers varied trails that wind through the dense woodland and past geological formations.

The park was developed during the Great Depression when the Civilian Conservation Corps built two lodges and laid out trails in the early 1930s. This infrastructure made it possible to open the natural area to the public for recreation.

The burial mounds reflect how Indigenous peoples held this land sacred and used it for ceremonies. These earthen structures show the spiritual importance of the river valley to earlier communities.

Visitors can camp at sites with electrical hookups or rent two simple cabins, each with access to modern restroom facilities and showers. The trails are accessible year-round, though warmer months provide the most comfortable hiking conditions.

Boneyard Hollow contains scattered bison bones that early settlers discovered, suggesting Indigenous hunters used the narrow ravine as a hunting ground. The site hints at ancient hunting strategies and the wildlife that once roamed the region.

Location: Iowa

Inception: 1925

Architects: Central Design Office, Ames

Elevation above the sea: 300 m

Website: https://iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Iowa-State-Parks/Dolliver-Memorial-State-Park

GPS coordinates: 42.38690,-94.08360

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05