Mines of Spain

12pm Drawing Days (Pt. 3)
2017-09-23 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Come on down to the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center to exercise your drawing skills! We have a large natural history collection including skulls, taxidermy, fossils, and even some live animals that are ripe for artistic interpretation! Bring your own supplies and even bring your own music or snacks. No fancy drawing skills needed!
Cost: Free
When: Every Saturday in September from 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Where: Downstairs classroom of E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center
E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center (lower level classroom)
8991 Bellevue Heights Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003
Questions? 563-556-0620

10am Trek with a Tech (Calcite Trail)
2017-09-24 10:00 - 11:00
Take a nature hike with the park technician on the Calcite Trail.

Meeting Location: Farmstead Picnic Area Parking Lot in Mines of Spain State Recreation Area (11475 Mines of Spain Road)
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am.
What to bring: hiking boots, water, and dress for the weather.
Trail difficulty: Difficult, with incline and lots of steps.
Distance: 2 miles

This event is weather permitting. Please call the park office at 563-556-0620 with questions.

E.B. Lyons CLOSED
2017-09-27, 2017-10-04, 2017-10-11, 2017-10-18, 2017-10-25
The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center is closed on Wednesdays for aquarium maintenance.

National Public Lands Day: Park Clean-up Event
2017-09-30 08:00 - 12:00
Celebrate National Public Lands Day at the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area on Saturday, September 30, from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm in two different areas of the park.

What: Volunteer in one or both events in your park while enjoying some of Dubuque’s most beautiful scenery. One group will participate in trash pick up along park trails and another group will work on prairie and trail corridor restoration.

Event 1 | TRASH PICK UP (GROUP 1):
We will split into smaller groups (or on your own) and hike different trails to pick up trash left behind from the summer’s busy recreation season. Trails will include: Horse Shoe Bluff, Calcite, Sauk & Fox, Prairie & Cedar Ridge; Catfish; Cattesse & Eagle Scout trails. Keep in mind some trails have ‘Moderate’ to ‘Difficult’ ratings due to steep slopes, steps, and topography changes.

When: Saturday, September 30, from 9:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Meet at the Horse Shoe Bluff parking lot (11346 Mines of Spain Road)
What to bring: hiking shoes; weather-appropriate clothing; water; sunscreen/bug spray; gloves; hat; etc.
We will provide trash bags, gloves, and park trail maps.

Event 2 | PRAIRIE RESTORATION & CORRIDOR CLEARING (GROUP 2):
We will restore prairie, as well as work on trail corridor maintenance and box steps cleaning. This will be a more labor intensive option and will require the use of hand loppers and/or shovels to widen trails, clean box steps, and remove invasive plants from prairie.

When: Saturday, September 30, from 8:00am-11:30pm
Where: Meet at E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center (8991 Bellevue Heights Road, Dubuque, IA 52003)
What to bring: Hiking shoes, water, weather-appropriate clothing; sunscreen/bug spray; gloves; loppers & shovels if you have your own.
We will provide a limited supply of loppers, shovels, gloves, and trash bags.

*These events are weather dependent.
Questions? Call the park office at 563-556-0620.

12pm Drawing Days (Pt. 4)
2017-09-30 09:00 - 15:00

12pm Fall Crafts: Walnut Races Edition!
2017-10-07 12:00 - 14:00
All ages and families are welcome to the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center’s downstairs classroom as we create and decorate our own walnut race cars. After we decorate we will take them outside to race!
Questions? Call the park office at 563-556-0620.

12pm Fall Nature Crafts Day
2017-10-14 12:00 - 15:00
All ages are welcome to the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center anytime between 12:00pm-3:00pm in the downstairs classroom.
We will be making fall-themed crafts using things like walnuts and acorns.
Questions? Call the park office at 563-556-0620.

Winter Season Hours (OCT 16-APRIL 30)
2017-10-16
WINTER HOURS: Effective October 16th through April 30th.
The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center will be open during the winter season: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
The center will be CLOSED: Wednesdays, Saturdays – Sundays.

EB Lyons Center Closed Wednesdays
2017-11-22 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-06 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-13 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-20 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-27 08:00 - 17:00

Happy Thanksgiving EB Lyons Center Closed
2017-11-23

EB Lyons Center Closed
2017-11-24

EB Lyons Center Closed Weekends
2017-11-25, 2017-11-26, 2017-12-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-03 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-09 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-12-17 08:00 - 17:00 and 1 more date

Merry Christmas EB Lyons Center Closed
2017-12-25 08:00 - 17:00

First Day Hike-CANCELLED
2018-01-01 13:00 - 14:00
First Day Hikes Canceled Due to Frigid Temperatures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2017

Iowa’s First Day Hikes Canceled Due to Frigid Temperatures
DES MOINES – With temperatures predicted to dip well below zero, the Iowa DNR has decided to cancel First Day Hikes at 27 state parks scheduled for New Year’s Day.
“While it’s a great disappointment to us to cancel this event, the safety of park visitors comes first,” said Todd Coffelt, State Parks Bureau Chief. “We know that frost bite can set in fairly quickly at those cold temperatures, so we are using caution in making this decision.”
First Day Hikes are part of a national initiative to encourage people to spend time outdoors. Last year in Iowa, more than 1,200 people participated in hikes across the state.
“We definitely will plan on hosting hikes again next year, and anyone can visit state parks during the winter and enjoy the beautiful scenery that’s unique to this time of year,” said Coffelt.

Media Contact: Todd Coffelt, Chief, State Parks Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-725-8485
