Preparation Canyon State Park

Preparation Canyon State Park is a 346-acre state park in western Iowa, about 3.5 miles from the town of Moorhead. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the park, which holds six trails within its boundaries, making it a compact base for a day of hiking on short connecting routes. Typical averages from the Little Sioux 2 NW weather station, about 9 miles away, show a wide seasonal swing. Late spring and early fall are the mildest stretches. May averages highs near 72°F and lows near 48°F, and September runs about 77°F by day and 50°F at night. October cools to highs in the mid-60s with lows in the upper 30s. Summer is warmest, with July highs averaging 86°F and lows around 62°F. May and June are the wettest months, with about 13 days of precipitation each. Winter is cold. January averages a high of 29°F and a low of 9°F, and snow falls on about seven days in each of January and February. December, March and April also see some snow days. Several trail segments start close by. Sp 1.7.3 and Sp 1.5 are each about 0.2 miles away, Sarah's Trail is about half a mile off, and Pc 2.2 sits roughly a mile from the park's reference point.