Trip Recommendations w/in 1 day drive of SE Iowa

Jay,

Your avatar suggests you are in Iowa City.

The near end of the Superior Hiking Trail is 7.5 hours from there, about 10 hours to the far end. 205 miles of fine trail between the two ends.

1. Any part of the North Country Trail is close and has excellent hiking through WI and MI.

3. Michigan’s U.P. is home to the backpacker-friendly Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

I'm very much a novice. I don't mind a challenge but prefer a well marked trail at this time.

I'm not a high mileage speed hiker, nor am I anywhere near a plodder.

Well marked, well managed, shuttle available, good guidebooks…'nuff said.

Check out the Superior Hiking Trail Association website.

If you want to stick with the Ozarks, the Eleven Point section of the Ozark Trail was apparently unaffected by the storm. If it isn't long enough, you can add some of the Between the Rivers section to it. The Eleven Point section is really nice, and it's less than 2 hours south of Potosi, depending on where you access it. The best time to hike it has already passed, though. Same with the Ouachitas — it was already hot, weedy, and tick-infested in late April when we were there.

What about my stumpping grounds in NE IOWA near Decorah or Bluffton? Near the Upper Iowa river are some trails, but don't know the names. Also areas along the Mississippi River just inland??

Good Luck

an ole iowan