Outdoor Recreation

Duck Creek Trail Parkway
A 13.5 mile asphalt trail that is great for running, biking, walking, inline skating, and is wheelchair accessible!

• $ = FREE
• Distance from campus = 1 Mile
• Begins at Emeis Park and Golf Course on the west side of Davenport and passes through Northwest Park, Marquette Park, Junge Park, Garfield Park, Eastern Avenue Park and Duck Creek Park and Golf Course where it enters Bettendorf. In Bettendorf it travels through Middle Park, Veterans Memorial Park and Devils Glen Park before it comes to an end.

Vander Veer Botanical Park
A 33-acre botanical garden in the Vander Veer Park Historic District of Davenport, Iowa located between Brady and Harrison Streets just south of West Central Park Avenue in Davenport, Iowa.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 0.1 Mile
Features: 0.9 mile loop, restrooms, playground, historic area, open space, lagoon with vending machines to feed ducks, beautiful fountain that is lighted at night

Junge Park

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 0.9 Mile
Features: Restrooms, picnic tables, barbecue grills, reservable picnic shelter, ball diamonds (6), basketball court, playground, walking path, sand volleyball courts (6)

West Lake Park
West Lake Park is a 620-acre facility offering four lakes for fishing and/or swimming.

$ = $4-$22
Distance from campus = 7 Miles
A boat dock, parking lot, handicap fishing dock, beach area, and paddle boat rentals are available for the water enthusiast. For the landlubbers, the park offers picnic facilities, playground areas, modern restrooms and two campground areas with electrical, water, and/or sewer hook-ups. Both camping areas have handicap accessible comfort stations.

Scott County Park
Scott County Park, with 1,280 acres, is the largest in Scott County.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 15 Miles
Twelve picnic areas and shelters with tables, grills and/or fireplaces accessible. It offers a baseball field, playground equipment, a radio-controlled airplane site, nature trails, an equestrian area and five unique camping areas. Modern restrooms and showers throughout the park. An Olympic size heated swimming pool has lifeguards and offers summer swimming lessons. Winter activities include sledding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing.

For a full list of parks in Davenport, click here. Check out QC Wild Places for nature places all over the Quad Cities!

State Parks within Driving Distance

Wildcat Den State Park
Wildcat Den State Park is one of the most unique in Iowa, combining natural beauty and solitude, preservation of historical structures, trails, camping and picnic areas for recreational use.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 21 Miles
Features: Within park: Bird Watching, Camping - Nonelectric, Camping - Youth Group, Concession, Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Horseshoe Pits, Interpretive Programs, Non-modern Campground, Picnic Area, Picnic Shelter, Restrooms, Seasonal Festivals, Stream/Creek, Trails, Hiking, Walking, Water Hydrants , Wildflower Viewing, Wildlife Viewing. Less than a mile: Canoeing.

Maquoketa Caves State Park
Maquoketa Caves is probably Iowa's most unique state park. Its caves, limestone formations and rugged bluffs provide visitors a chance to "step back" into geological time thousands of years. Caves vary from the 1,100-feet Dancehall Cave with walkways and lighting system to Dugout Cave. The remaining caves are all different sizes and shapes. Some can be explored by walking while others can best be seen by crawling. In any case, a flashlight, old clothes, and shoes are most helpful.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 46 Miles
Bird Watching, Camping - Electric, Camping - Nonelectric, Camping - Walk-to/Hike-in, Camping - Youth Group, Cave, Exploring, Dump Station, Geological Formations, Hiking, Interpretive Display, Museum, Picnic Area, Picnic Shelter, Playground, Restrooms, Showers, Stream/Creek, Water Hydrants , Wildflower Viewing, Wildlife Viewing

Starved Rock State Park
A hike to the top of a sandstone butte or a peaceful stroll to explore any of the 18 canyons gives each visitor a memorable experience. The backdrop for hiking is 18 canyons formed by glacial melt-water and stream erosion. They slice dramatically through tree-covered, sandstone bluffs for four miles at Starved Rock State Park.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 92 Miles
Hiking and trails, guided hikes, lodge activities and amenities, trolley tours and rentals, park programs and activities, charming wineries, eagle watching, historical and cultural activities, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting, boating, marinas, and water cruises, hunting & fishing, camping and picnics, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, winter hiking, and many, many more activities!

Eastern Avenue Disc Golf Course
There are 6 Disc Golf courses in the Quad Cities, but the closest to campus is Eastern Avenue Park.[Image: Eastern Avenue Park]

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 1.5 Miles
The disc golf course is long and fairly open. Two creeks run through it, creating nine holes with water hazards for Pros.

Duck Creek Golf Course
Duck Creek is a beautiful 18-hole golf course which is 5,759 yards long and plays to a par of 70.

$ = $17-$19
Distance from campus = 3 Miles
It is the site of a former private arboretum and its 140 acres feature a mature stand of trees and dramatic changes in elevation as it follows Duck Creek eastward to the city's boundary. This challenging facility is popular with all skill levels.

Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center
A 9-Hole golf course as result of a public-private partnership between the City of Davenport and the Quad Cities Chapter of the First Tee. FootGolf is now available at Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center. Players of both Soccer and Golf will get a kick out of Iowa's first and only American FootGolf League's accredited course, while also spending time in fresh air on a well-manicured course.

$ = $10-$18
Distance from campus = 5 Miles
Three ponds, 20 permanent range tees, driving range, huge putting green and practice chipping green, and forward tees on every hole. For Footgolf: Rental soccer balls and riding carts, 9-hole course, 18-hole course.

Credit Island Park
Credit Island is a 420-acre nature park on the Mississippi River and connected to the mainland by a causeway and accessible by cars or from the bike trail at 2200 W River Drive.

$ = FREE
Distance from campus = 5 Miles
Credit Island features ball diamonds, basketball court, 18 hole disk golf course, lodge, picnic tables, picnic shelters, playground, public boat ramp, scenic drive, bird watching, and seasonal restrooms. Eagles congregate during the winter along the open water below Lock & Dam 15.

Click here for more golf in the Quad Cities

Li'l Mississippi Golf: An 18-hole miniature golf course located on Kimberly Road in Davenport.

• $ = $4.50 on College Days
• Distance from campus = 3 Miles

Michael's Fun World: Go karts, laser tag, batting cages, rock climbing, arcades, bowling, mini golf, and more.

• $ = $5-$5.75
• Distance from campus = 5 Miles

Scuba Adventures QCA: The original oldest Dive Shop in eastern Iowa and Western Illinois since 1961. From Discover Scuba all the way through your continuing education, they will take time to do it RIGHT and show you the art of scuba diving!

• $ = See website for specific prices
• Distance from campus = 5 Miles

QC Skydiving: Quad City Skydiving Center, Inc. is a safety oriented drop zone geared towards teaching beginners the exhilarating sport of SKYDIVING!

• $ = see website for prices
• Distance from campus = 32 Miles

Grand Hannover Farm: Grand Hannover Farm in Davenport is a premiere riding, training facility for dressage, English equitation, hunter jumper, and basic horsemanship instruction.

• $ = Contact for specific price
• Distance from campus = 6 Miles

Action Valley Paintball: Located in Moline, Ill, Action Valley offers a variety of paintball fields to choose from. Groups and/or singles are welcome. Open M-F by appointment only, Sat. 9-5, and Sun. 10-5.

• $ = $10-$55 with memberships available. See Action Valley website
• Distance from campus = 12 miles