Prairie Creek Climbing

The best approach to accessing the cliff lines is from the pavilion parking, which is located inside Prairie Creek Recreation Area. To access the parking, enter the park on the west side via the entrance at the corner of Jacobsen Drive and Summit Street in Maquoketa. The Pavilion is located at the end of the blacktop in the park.

Once parked, head toward bridge behind the pavilion. Go across the bridge that goes over Prairie Creek and continue straight until you come to a "T" in the mowed trailed directly in front of the treeline and you should see a sign that reads, "Hiking Club Trail." This is the orange trail on the map. Go left and continue until you start seeing the rock lines on your right and the creek on your left starts to behind like a horseshoe. This is the main area thus far. There are small, faint trails travsing the cliff lines, which will lead you up to the boulder problems.

There is potential also near the caves. To reach this area, do not cross the bridge. Instead, walk down to prairie creek behind the pavilion and follow the creek west. Once in the woods, you will start noticing rock outcroppings and the caves.