Notable sanctuary · Delaware, Iowa
Backbone State Forest
Backbone State Forest is a sanctuary in Delaware, Iowa.
Backbone State Forest: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this sanctuary: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.
Best time to visit Backbone State Forest
Season: November to March for sightings; sanctuaries may close in peak monsoon.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Backbone State Forest — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: 42.64041, -91.54958. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Backbone State Forest
- Bixby State Preserve · sanctuary · Clayton · ~15 km · Must-see
- Bridge Street · fort · Clayton · ~33 km · Must-see
- Volga River State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Fayette · ~39 km · Must-see
- Saint Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Basilica · church · Dubuque · ~48 km · Must-see
- National Farm Toy Museum · museum · Dubuque · ~51 km · Must-see
- Bussey Lake · lake · Clayton · ~51 km · Must-see
- First Baptist Church · church · Fayette · ~52 km · Must-see
- Turkey River Mounds State Preserve · sanctuary · Clayton · ~53 km · Must-see
- Nelson Dewey State Park · sanctuary · Grant · ~55 km · Must-see
- Spook Cave · cave · Clayton · ~60 km · Must-see
- Effigy Mounds National Monument · sanctuary · Clayton · ~64 km · Must-see
- Wyalusing State Park · sanctuary · Grant · ~64 km · Must-see
- Pikes Peak State Park · sanctuary · Clayton · ~64 km · Must-see
- Fort Crawford · museum · Clayton · ~69 km · Must-see
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · sanctuary · Allamakee · ~75 km · Must-see
- Limery Ridge Savanna State Natural Area · sanctuary · Clayton · ~75 km · Must-see
- Richmond Spring · attraction · Delaware · ~1 km
- Backbone Fish Hatchery (ruins) · fort · Delaware · ~2 km
See everything within a day’s drive of Backbone State Forest
Other wildlife, forests & gardens near Backbone State Forest
- Bixby State Preserve · sanctuary · Clayton · ~15 km · Must-see
- Volga River State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Fayette · ~39 km · Must-see
- Turkey River Mounds State Preserve · sanctuary · Clayton · ~53 km · Must-see
- Nelson Dewey State Park · sanctuary · Grant · ~55 km · Must-see
- Effigy Mounds National Monument · sanctuary · Clayton · ~64 km · Must-see
- Wyalusing State Park · sanctuary · Grant · ~64 km · Must-see
- Pikes Peak State Park · sanctuary · Clayton · ~64 km · Must-see
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · sanctuary · Allamakee · ~75 km · Must-see
- Limery Ridge Savanna State Natural Area · sanctuary · Clayton · ~75 km · Must-see
- Swiss Valley Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Dubuque · ~86 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is the park open?
No visitor has reported the opening & safari status for Backbone State Forest yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Backbone State Forest?
November to March for sightings; sanctuaries may close in peak monsoon. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Backbone State Forest?
Nearby: Bixby State Preserve (sanctuary, 15 km), Bridge Street (fort, 33 km), Volga River State Recreation Area (sanctuary, 39 km), Saint Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Basilica (church, 48 km), National Farm Toy Museum (museum, 51 km), Bussey Lake (lake, 51 km).
Is Backbone State Forest worth visiting?
Backbone State Forest is listed as a notable sanctuary in Iowa on Spotwander.