The Flora and Fauna of Prairie Rose State Park

When researching Prairie Rose State Park in Iowa, we were encouraged to see on the map that it had a series of hiking trails.  However, these were not the woodland trails we've come to expect from the southeastern US.  They were basically swaths of mowed grass in the prairie.  Barry didn't think too highly of them, but I enjoyed seeing the birds, swaying grasses, and wildflowers.  And there was almost always a lake view.  Sure, it wasn't the deep green forests we love, but the prairie has its own special beauty.
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Here are a few photos from the hikes we took around the park.  I should mention that because of the time of year, we only saw the occasional person fishing and no one else hiking.  We shared these trails with only the wildlife at the park, always a plus.

We could see the campground from the other side of Prairie Rose Lake as we hiked. That's Pearl up on the hill.

We actually encountered this pretty doe on a bike ride as we cooled down in the park, but she seemed to fit the theme of this post.  Right after I took this photo, she scampered off into the woods.

Next up:  Bicycling in the beautiful but hilly area around Prairie Rose State Park....