Pilot Knob State Park in Iowa

Pilot Knob State Park was dedicated in 1924, one of the earliest in the Iowa state park system. The parks centerpiece is a CCC-era Observation Tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can stand on top the tower and enjoy the sweeping vistas. The park also has many trails that are used in summer and winter. A 15-acre man made lake provides fishing and in winter, ice skating. An large outdoor amphitheater is pretty neat to check out as well. Trees native to the Pilot Knob area include walnut, ash, basswood, wild cherry, burr oak, aspen, white oak and red oak. Pilot Knob's natural features are so significant, the majority of the park has been dedicated as a state preserve.