KELLOGG, Iowa — Fall colors are reaching their peak in Iowa, so if you’re hoping to see some fall foliage, now is the time.  

Earlier this year, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources released a list of Iowa state parks with great fall foliage. Included on the list is the hidden gem of Rock Creek State Park.  

Just east of Kellogg and west of Grinnell (about an hour’s drive from Des Moines), Rock Creek State Park has miles of trails and paved roads. This makes it a very accessible option for seeing the fall colors. At the center of the park is Rock Creek Lake, which adds color and is also a spot for fishing. 

Several sections of the park have varying elevations, making for good vantage points. Iowa DNR Park Ranger Kory Kinnick recommends a viewing spot off of N 39th Ave (a gravel road) that looks over the park and the lake’s spillway.  

While the fall colors will only be here for a few more weeks, Rock Creek State Park is open year-round. Horseback riding, skiing, and snowboarding can be found on the hiking trails in the winter, but some of those are closed to certain activities after flooding earlier this spring.  

Rock Creek State Park has nearly 200 campsites. Those close in mid-November and reopen April 1st.  

For more details about what Rock Creek State Park has to offer, check out the Iowa DNR’s website here.