Pike’s Peak State Park is located along the bluffs of the Mississippi River in northeastern Clayton County, Iowa.  Physiographically, it is contained in the eastern portion of the Paleozoic Plateau Landform Region, commonly known as the “Driftless Area”.  The varied topography of the park, including steep bluffs, deep ravines, and flat to rolling uplands, is typical of this landform region and provides diverse habitats for plant species and plant communities.  As will be seen, a diversity of rock formations and land uses also contributes to floristic diversity of the park.  The head of Bridal Veil Falls is an excellent location for a discussion of the mesic forest communities in Pikes Peak State Park by Iowa State Ecologist John Pearson.  Click here for a detailed discussion of Pikes Peak vegetation.   The photograph on the right is a view over Bridal Veil Falls down the drainage

  

 

 

General Discussion of the Bedrock Geology of Pikes Peak State Park  by Brian Witzke, Geological Survey Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

 

We will also take an opportunity, while at Bridal Veil Falls, for a quick review of the bedrock geologic units that we will be examining at Pikes Peak State Park.  Geological Survey Geologists Brian Witzke, Bill Bunker, Robert McKay, and Greg Ludvigson will share their insight on the park’s geology.  Bridal Veil Falls itself cascades over a resistant dolomite ledge in the McGregor Member of the Platteville Formation.  A thin section of the Platteville Shale is poorly exposed a few feet below the waterfall and the St. Peter Sandstone lies below it.  Click here for a review of the bedrock geology of the Pikes Peak State Park area.

 

Graphic section Displaying the General Geology of the Pikes Peak Area
Click on section for higher resolution image

 

 

 

Discussion of Andrew Clemens Sand Art by Richard J. Langel, Research Geologist Geological Survey Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

 

One of the many interesting historical stories in the Pikes Peak area developed about 200 feet down the hill from Bridal Veil Falls.  In the area called Pictured Rocks,  (and our next field trip stop)  spectacular iron staining colors the basal portion of the St. Peter Sandstone near Sand Cave.  In the late 1800's a local artist named Andrew Clemens collected colored sand from this area to create spectacular sand art paintings in glass bottles.  Several of his creations are pictured below.  At Stop 5 Rich Langel leads a discussion of  Clemens' life and work.   Click here to read a brief discussion of Andrew Clemens by Rich Langel.

Andrew Clemens

Examples of Andrew Clemens' Sand Art    (click on bottle for high-resolution image)
George Washington on horseback.  Photo from the  Iowa State Historical Society.	The William Huntting home in McGregor, now home to the McGregor Manor Bread and Breakfast.  Photo a. by John Kuefler, McGregor.	The Seal of Iowa and several scenes from Iowa history.   Photo from the  Iowa State  Historical Society.

 

    

     TIME TO MOVE ON TO STOP 6 · · · · ·

 

WARNING !  ! ! DANGEROUS HIKE ! ! !              READ BEFORE CONTINUING The trail down the drainage below Bridal Veil Falls to Sand Cave is not maintained. It is a very steep dirt trail that is very slippery when wet or icy, and it is almost 300 feet of vertical, down then back up! You should carefully evaluate your abilities to make this hike. We will limit the number of people that we take down to visit this stop; or, if the conditions are not favorable, we may skip this trip stop ALSO!  The environment around Sand Cave is very fragile, with many sensitive plant and animal communities.  Please take care that your impact on these environments are minimal.

 

The Hike down to Sand Cave is Steep but Beautiful Click Here For Photos of the Trail Down to Stop 6 Click Here to go Directly to Stop 6