Sara Jordan-Heintz
Contributing writer
Regardless of age, ability or interest, Boone and Story counties offer a wide selection of outdoor recreation.
“Hiking dominates our recreation at the park, and what’s cool about hiking in the winter is you can see quite a bit further with no leaves on the trees,” Ledges State Park Manager Andy Bartlett said.
In addition to hiking, its trails are ideal for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and bird watching. Bald eagles can be spotted along the Des Moines River. Red-tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, blue jays, cardinals, red-headed woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees and nuthatches are some popular types of birds commonly seen this time of year at Ledges. Lost Lake has recently been used for ice skating. Visitors should check ice thickness before venturing out.