Pikes Peak 2025
Richard Rathe, 2025 (Birds, Flowers, Travel)
Pikes Peak is a state park in Clayton County, Iowa, United States, featuring a 500-foot (150 m) bluff overlooking the Upper Mississippi River opposite the confluence of the Wisconsin River… The Iowa incarnation of Pikes Peak, a particularly high point overlooking the gorge of the Upper Mississippi, and like Pikes Peak in Colorado, is named for Zebulon Pike. Pike visited the area in 1805 during his first expedition.
[wikipedia]
In the panorama above, the city of Prairie du Chien is in the upper left, north of the Wisconsin River outlet near the center. Wyalusing State Park is on the opposite bluff.
Spring Birds
When I first got to Iowa in May, I went on a little early morning bird walk. 🙂
Fall Flowers
I started at the northern (lowest) part of the park along the Mississippi River. This is a long loop starting with the Chinquapin Trail. (Named after the Chinquapin Oaks that predominate along the ridge). (See map in gallery below.)
The trails were festooned with five or six different species of purple and white Asters mixed in with this White Snakeroot and Yellow Goldenrod.
I was particularly taken by these tiny Calico Asters
.
There were berries and fruit of many colors and shapes.
These deeply purple New England Asters
only appeared in one place. The the bees were very busy with them!
One dead log was surrounded by a forest of small mushrooms.
I found this Wild Turkey flight feather in the middle of the trail.
This young Buck was not too distrubed by my presence as I moved around him to take pictures from Point Ann.
This is a classic river view with the town, grain elevator, American flag, and bridge in the distance.
