In Johnson, nature experiences range from small prairie areas to a water trail that stretches for many miles. Plant enthusiasts can find botanical highlights in several conservation and study areas, while trails and historic places offer their own points of interest.

Prairie, Riparian Forest and Oak Woodland

Williams Prairie State Preserve is in western Johnson County and encompasses 30 acres of wet prairie. More than 300 vascular plant species have been documented there. Solon Prairie offers a different botanical focus: it is a 3-acre wet prairie area open to the public as a botanical study area. The original prairie is believed to have never been plowed; 105 prairie species have been identified there.

Plant diversity is also reflected in a distinct figure at Malinda Reif Reilly Fen and Prairie: 225 plant species have been documented there, including rare native species. The figures for Williams and Solon refer to different categories—vascular plant species in one case and prairie species in the other. They therefore offer different botanical perspectives, not a straightforward ranking.

A different landscape defines the Clear Creek Area: the 87-acre riparian forest surrounds Clear Creek as a buffer zone; the creek is a tributary of the Iowa River. The paved Clear Creek Trail, a multi-use trail, passes through the area. Johnson County Conservation manages a 1.3-mile section of it between Ireland Avenue and Half Moon Avenue. At Cangleska Wakan, a 132-acre park, high-quality oak woodland and distinctive architecture come together.

Trails on Foot and on the Water

The Iowa River Trail’s length and character are clearly defined: the 16-mile paved multi-use trail network connects Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty. The Hoover Trail can be described in two sections—5.8 miles between Ely and Solon and 3.7 miles between Oasis and West Branch. It is also part of the Great American Rail-Trail and the American Discovery Trail.

The Iowa River Water Trail covers a different scale: the route stretches 72 miles from Iowa City to Louisa County, with 24 miles passing through Johnson County. Hills Access and River Junction Access serve as launch or takeout points. For comparing options, the numbers are useful, as are the different types of routes: a paved multi-use trail network, designated trail sections and a water route.

At Lake Macbride State Park, kayaking, paddling and swimming are among the summer activities; conditions may vary. If you would rather focus on botanical observations than cover a route, you can visit Solon Prairie as a study area. The different highlights give you a range of starting points for planning your trip, without requiring one route to meet every interest.

Historic Places and Exhibits

Plum Grove Historic Home offers a look back at the history of Robert Lucas: the house was built in 1844 as a residence for Iowa’s first territorial governor. Its furnishings reflect the Lucas family’s time there in the 1840s and 1850s. Free house tours are offered, along with visits to the historic vegetable and flower gardens.

The Old Capitol Museum brings together political and academic history. The building served as Iowa’s first state capitol from 1846 to 1857 and was also the founding building of the University of Iowa. Today, it is designated a National Historic Landmark. Visitors interested in the region’s history can encounter both early state government and the university’s beginnings here.

At the Johnson County Historical Society Museum, the exhibit “Between Two Rivers: Meskwaki in Johnson County” explores the Meskwaki’s journeys to Johnson County; the exhibition program may change. A dedicated children’s area uses interactive and educational exhibits on Indigenous peoples and pioneers, one-room schoolhouses, and agricultural production. Alongside the historic buildings, visitors can therefore choose from different ways of learning about history.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville, North Liberty, Hardin County, Marion County, Iowa County, Howard County.

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