Our favorite place to hike is Pilot Knob State Park. It’s only about 10 minutes from The Lodge. Type in 2148 340th Street, Forest City, IA 50436 for your GPS. You can also check out the website here.
Pilot Knob is one of the earliest parks in Iowa’s state park system, featuring sweeping vistas and unique ecological areas. This 537-acre park is the crown jewel of Forest City’s outdoor offerings. It’s about 4 miles, making it beginner friendly. It begins at the park entrance and winds through the park, all paved and on park roads. This is the most popular route, offering gentle terrain perfect for all fitness levels. The elevation gain is 426 feet (one of the highest in the area) so give yourself 1.5 – 2 hours to do the full hike. There’s an observation tower for 360-degree views of the Iowa countryside. If you can get up early, it’s worth catching sunrise from there. Just remember to wear layers as it gets cooler the further up you go. Check this above linked website for current conditions. Trails may be closed during hunting season or after heavy storms.
We also recommend the Forest City Trail System that starts at Pammel Park on J Street. We’re lucky that our city offers 9 miles of well-maintained trails connecting downtown to Pilot Knob State Park. It’s perfect for casual walks, morning jogs, or family bike rides. The Hynes Spur Trail is a paved off-road 2 miler that’s really easy and makes it’s way through Pammel Park, the golf course, and the Winnebago Rally grounds. This is The Lodge’s closest trail—you can literally walk from your room to the trailhead. Early mornings are really peaceful out here and of course it’s very safe so you can even do an after dinner walk to work off dessert.