Middle River was my wild card. Based on what I was able to find online, I was not entirely sure what sort of park or forest, or boat ramp, I would be exploring. Located 3.6 miles (according to Google Maps) north of highway 92 and approximately 12 miles south of Stuart, Iowa, Middle River Forest Area is as rural as it gets. As one of the main access points to Middle River, this small woodland park has very little in the way of amenities but offers one of the most peaceful access points to a river I’ve seen.

I’d made my Iowa’s99 county selections for the year, the question was which one to start with?  Still feeling a bit homebody-ish, I didn’t want to go too far. I’d covered the counties directly around me, so anywhere was going to involve some time. I chose the closest next county, Marion.

I woke up this past Saturday to 52 degrees and sunny skies. Having already decided on a trip north to Art Farm Iowa, I quickly decided to head out right away and take advantage of as much of the beautiful weather as possible. A hot coffee and camera bag in hand, I hit the road with high hopes for the day ahead.