Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
8700 NE 126 Ave.,
Maxwell, IA 50161
515-967-2596
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt stretches for almost ten miles along
the Skunk River in northeast Polk County.
Chichaqua's recreational facilities include electric and non-electric
campsites, canoe rental, picnic areas, rental lodge, hiking trails,
trap shooting range, dog training area, and waterfowl hunting blinds.
When the Conservation Board first acquired property for the area in
1960, its intention was to preserve and restore the old oxbows of
the original Skunk River channel.
The area's natural features include old oxbow river channels and
backwaters, marshes, and wetlands. Chichaqua also includes sandy
upland hills with reconstructed prairies and native prairie remnants.
In 1910, a 100-foot long Warren pony truss was constructed to span
the Skunk River about a mile south of its current site. The bridge
was used until 1992 when it was moved to its present location at
Chichaqua. It is one of the only 17 remaining bridges in Iowa of
this design. The bridge is now restricted to foot traffic and
crosses the old Skunk River.