Experience Dubuque’s Proving Grounds on Explore Your Park Day

Getting outdoors is one of the best ways to recharge, and Dubuque has no shortage of places to explore. This fall, kids will get their own chance to discover one of the area’s hidden gems during Explore Your Park Day at the Proving Grounds Recreation Area, happening Thursday, October 30, from 10 AM to noon.

The program is designed for kids 5 to 11 and gives them the opportunity to spend a day away from school while still learning. For a $5 fee, kids can play and explore with a Dubuque County naturalist as their guide. From hands-on activities to trail adventures, it’s a chance for young explorers to see first-hand what makes this 134-acre property so special. Parents can drop off kids for the morning session, then pack a lunch for them to enjoy after the program.

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What makes the Proving Grounds unique is its history. The land was first purchased by Terrance Kavanaugh in 1889 and stayed in the family until John Deere acquired it in 1945. For decades, it served as Experimental Site 16, where Deere tested the performance and durability of new equipment. At one point, the site even had its own runway for flying in employees and customers. By the early 1970s, Deere had moved testing elsewhere, but in 2018 donated the property to Dubuque County for public use.

Today, the Proving Grounds lives up to its name in a new way. Instead of machines, it’s people who come here to prove themselves. Trails with names like Dozer Drive and Backdrag now challenge mountain bikers and hikers, winding through oak and hickory forest, limestone bluffs, and restored prairie. Wildlife sightings are common, too. When my family went, we spotted deer, turkeys, loads of birds, and even a black rat snake sunning itself on the rocks.

Upcoming Dubuque County Conservation Explore Your Park Events

• Friday, November 14 – New Wine Park
• Monday, December 22 – EB Lyons Interpretive Center / Mines of Spain
• Thursday, February 26 – Whitewater Canyon
• Monday, April 6 – Swiss Valley Nature Preserve

On my own visit with the family, we were greeted by towering bluffs, wide-open prairies, and plenty of wildlife. We climbed up to Sturman Tower, followed a bluffside trail, and ended our day with another great Dubuque park checked off our list. With its mix of history, scenery, and adventure, the Proving Grounds is a park worth hiking, biking, and exploring. If you’d like a closer look, scroll down through my photo gallery for the views, trails, and critters that made this hike unforgettable.

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