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Tours

1. My-owa Tours

   • Outdoors

     Stops

     1. Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park

        Penrose St, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
        
        Baseball diamonds, a sledding hill, an outdoor basketball court, and a beautiful running/walking trail await you at this popular Grinnell park. Some of the best sunrise and sunset views in town, and only a half-mile from campus!

     2. Sunrise Coffee Club

        Penrose St, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
        
        Do you love coffee and conversation? Join the Sunrise Coffee Club, a student group that meets on Sunday mornings to enjoy coffee, pastries, and the sunrise over Ahrens Park.

     3. Sky-owa

        5th Avenue, Grinnell, IA, USA
        
        Our state is called “Sky-owa” for a reason. The cloudbursts and sunsets are simply the best.

     4. Arbor Lake

        Arbor Lake, Grinnell, IA, USA
        
        Located less than two miles beyond campus, Arbor Lake is an ideal spot to get away from it all and walk, bike, run, or kayak.

     5. Grinnell Aquatic Center

        Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center, 8th Avenue West, Grinnell, IA, USA
        
        Cool off at the Grinnell Aquatic Center with slides, a lazy river, and plenty of space to soak up the summer sun.

     6. Country Road F27

        Co Rd F27, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
        
        A popular biking and running path to Rock Creek State Park!

     7. Krumm Nature Preserve

        Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve, Jacob Avenue, Grinnell, IA, USA
        
        Enjoy a walk through the prairie or take in the spectacle of a controlled burn at the Krumm Nature Preserve, located just outside the town of Grinnell. A popular spot for running too! The cross country teams practices here every Wednesday in the fall.

     8. Rock Creek State Park

        Rock Creek State Park, Rock Creek East Street, Kellogg, IA, USA
        
        Campgrounds on a lake? Check. Hiking and boating? Check. Located just eight miles from campus, Rock Creek State Park feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of college life.

     9. Whiterock Conservancy

        1436 IA-141, Coon Rapids, IA 50058, USA
        
        Summer research students visit Whiterock Conservancy with interns and staff from Grinnell’s Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA).

     10. Hitchcock Nature Center

         27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USA
         
         At the Hitchcock Nature Center in Iowa's Loess Hills, visitors can enjoy 10 miles of trails through conserved prairie.

     11. Des Moines Botanical Garden

         Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA, USA
         
         Explore Des Moines’ vibrant, 7-acre public botanical garden. Classes, volunteer opportunities, and locally-sourced food are also available!

     12. Iowa Farm Sanctuary

         2485 Hwy 6 Trail, Marengo, IA 52301, USA
         
         “Saving a handful of animal's lives may not make a big impact on the agricultural industry here in Iowa, but it will be the biggest impact possible for every single animal that is saved.

          

         Giving farm animals a home where they can live a life free of confinement is the least we could do for these sentient beings. We recognize farm animals have been regarded as food or a product for far too long and we want to provide an opportunity for people who have not interacted with farm animals an opportunity to see for themselves how complex and intelligent the animals are.”
         
         

         — Iowa Farm Sanctuary

     13. Pictured Rocks

         Pictured Rocks County Park, Park Road, Monticello, IA, USA
         
         Pictured Rocks boasts some of the best outdoor climbing in Iowa, as well as plentiful opportunities for hiking, fishing, and caving.

     14. Pikes Peak State Park

         817 Commercial St, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
         
         The Mississippi River Valley as seen from Pikes Peak State Park, the highest point on the Mississippi.