Maquoketa Caves State Park and Bluff Lake Catfish Farm Restaurant recap
Roseanne Van Cura | Published on 10/29/2025
Seventeen adventurous club members enjoyed hiking the trails and caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park. Parts of the adventure were more challenging than we expected, but there were no mishaps or injuries, other than some sore muscles.
The Dance Hall cave is the largest in the park and is spectacular. Parts of the cave have low clearances, so it was necessary to bend down while watching your footing on the narrow and wet trail. Other parts of the trail opened up to big caverns, one where dances were actually held, thus the name Dance Hall.
A
lthough the trees had not provided much color, the weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful. A well-earned lunch was had at the Bluff Lake Catfish farm. Nearly all the members enjoyed a family style fried chicken and shrimp lunch. There was a lot of food! Kim Betts lunched on a fried, bones-in catfish, which was NOT caught at the farm. There were many comments that we should do this adventure again, and so we will! Thanks to everyone who participated, and I am looking forward to planning this event again. Please note—the front page Skiddoo photo was taken at Bluff Lake Catfish Farm restaurant.