The Maquoketa River in eastern Iowa weaves together a variety of stops both on and off the Delaware Crossing Scenic Byway.

One such place is just north of Manchester, at Iowa's first state park.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Detrich: The reason Backbone is Backbone and the reason people wanted to protect it over 100 years ago and turned it into Iowa State Park, is this ridge of limestone that we're standing on.

It's the last glacier mist in this corner of Iowa and Wisconsin, and created this awesome landscape here that we have.

♪♪♪ Kohlsdorf: Dedicated in 1920, Backbone State Park was named for a narrow ridge of bedrock known as the Devil's Backbone.

♪♪♪ Detrich: There's spots where it's, you know, wide as a car and 50 and 80 feet down on either side.

And the river's right there on either side, flowing opposite directions.

It's just a cool landscape.

♪♪♪ Kohlsdorf: Known for its ancient dolomite formations, the rocky outcroppings invite hikers to an extensive adventure that stands in stark contrast to the black soil of surrounding farmland.

♪♪♪ Detrich: Backbone has roughly 20 miles of trails.

♪♪♪ The loop around the lake is about seven miles.

♪♪♪ Takes you down the East Lake Trail.

You can throw the Backbone Trail in there and West Lake.

Stay along the lake and the river, for the most part.

It's just a -- just a gorgeous trail.

♪♪♪ Kohlsdorf: The park's earliest days are intertwined with the CCC, or Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal work relief program during the Great Depression.

♪♪♪ The CCC built dams, hiking paths, and the park's signature boathouse in the 1930's and '40s.

Iowa's first state park offers travelers and nature lovers a one of a kind stop for unique landscape views.

Well, people knew 100 years ago that this place needed to be protected, needed to be preserved for future generations.