State Park · Iowa
Backbone State Park
- Location
- Delaware County, Iowa
- Nearest town
- 3.8 miles south of Strawberry Point
- Type
- State Park
About Backbone State Park
The Maquoketa River loops around a narrow, steep ridge of exposed bedrock once known as the Devil's Backbone, which gives the park its name. It was dedicated in 1920 on 1,200 acres donated by E.M. Carr of Lamont, Iowa, making it Iowa's oldest state park. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built a low dam that formed Backbone Lake and constructed most of the trails and buildings still standing in the park.
Hours, fees, camping, reservations and closures are set by the park and change often. Check the official park site before you go.
Getting there
Backbone State Park is in Delaware County, Iowa, 3.8 miles south of Strawberry Point. The Directions button takes you to the park's mapped location; the entrance may be elsewhere, so check the official site for the address to use.
State parks near Backbone State Park
Within 60 miles, closest first, straight-line. All 50 in Iowa →
Cedar Rock State ParkState Park · Buchanan County, IA19 miSW- Roberts Creek State PreserveState Natural Area · Clayton County, IA22 miNE
Nelson Dewey State ParkState Park · Grant County, WI28 miE
Pikes Peak State ParkState Park · Crawford County, WI32 miNE
Wyalusing State ParkState Park · Grant County, WI33 miNE- Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area · Linn County, IA38 miS
Wapsipinicon State ParkState Park · Jones County, IA40 miS- George Wyth Memorial State ParkState Park · Black Hawk County, IA43 miW
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature CenterState Recreation Area · Dubuque County, IA47 miE
Towns near Backbone State Park
State parks near Waterloo, State parks near Cedar Rapids, State parks near Dubuque, State parks near Waverly
Facts from Wikidata, checked September 25, 2026. Distances are straight-line.