Wildcat Cave Trail

Really cool area! There were bats roosting in the cave, so we didn't enter. There is a trail down the ravine to the cave, but also another trail up on top of the ridge that eventually goes down to the ravine way past where the cave is.

This area is BEAUTIFUL! Gotta make sure you follow the trail because it’s surrounded by private property. A really pretty gorge with a small cave. The cave is really tiny but it’s fun to climb up to it and sit in it for a while admiring the surroundings. The gorge lets out into the Iowa River and MAN ALIVE is it a pretty view. Leaves are starting to change too. Not a difficult hike. A lot of rock traversing and even some climbing up, down and through rock. Just follow the dirt trail once you cross the bridge. Once you hit the River double back into the ravine. As others have said once you see the bus on the left go a little bit further and look to your right and you’ll see the cave looming overhead. It’s not much but it’s a really cool sight. I’d recommend it, just be sure to stay off of other peoples property.

Awesome!!!

Very fun! Hike down the ravine in good weather and make your way to the cave! You have to climb up to get to the cave. Then continue down the ravine to the river. Very peaceful and private. No problem with the neighbors for us! It seemed pretty obvious which was the public trail and which was a private drive.

This trail wasn’t hard and the cave was super easy to find. Don’t know why people are saying it’s confusing because it was quite simple. You will park next to the gate that’s right in front of the wildcat trail sign and walk around the fence and just follow the trail. It’s that simple. The cave is right across from the old bus. You can’t miss it.

The trail to get back to the ravine is okay, but the ravine itself was too muddy to get very far without sinking down into it. On the way back to the car the neighbor let his guard dogs out and they came barking and growling at us as we ran into the car. We won’t be back.

Finding the cave can confusing as there are no markers as to any trail(s). After the wooden bridge, take a right down into the rocky ravine. If indeed that is private property as others have mentioned, it's not marked as such. Disappointed that other hikers left garbage along the ravine and at the river water front.

To access the cave is much simpler if you kayak or canoe to it by means of the Iowa River. If you put in at Steamboat Rock it is about 2 1/2 river miles downstream and it is one of the most beautiful stretches of river in Iowa. Once you go under the old abandoned steel road bridge, the river turns to the left and then a quick turn to the right, that is when you want to be looking on the left side of the river for a stream bed (usually dry), portage there and walk up the stream bed about 80 yards and it is on your right side about 25 feet above you. There is an abandoned school bus on your left, the cave isn't to far past that. Good Luck!

I can't speak to the actual trail. I can tell you that the entrance is on a dirt road in the middle of a cornfield with no parking and completely surrounded by "No Trespassing" signs. I drove out with my 7 and 5 year old nephew in tow... nothing about the situation was kid friendly. May try again alone as it does sound interesting.

Very rocky but fairly easy. Make sure it is a dry day with no chance of rain. Pretty interesting little place.

wildcat cave trail is mis-marked, if you cross the foot bridge and go down the ravine you will be crossing private property and the owner can get very cross. To be safe follow the marker posts up the hill then go several miles south go to the river bottom and walk north until you come to that same ravine as you have been told. You walk east north east up the ravine and the cave is on your right or to your south as you walk. It is really not much of a cave, it starts out about 6 feet tall at the entrance and the closes to nothing in about 4 feet, again, not much of a cave..So, is it really worth upsetting the property owner, please RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY

Nice short hike down a beautiful, secluded ravine