Updated July 2026
Backbone Falls (Spillway)
A waterfall formed by the spillway of Backbone Lake in Iowa's oldest state park, flowing year-round below the dam. It is reached via the West Lake Trail or viewed from a park road near the spillway.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Backbone State Park (Iowa DNR) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No measured height is on record for Backbone Falls (Spillway) in the land-manager and survey sources this inventory draws on. We list it without a height rather than estimating one.
Access is documented as short hike. No trail distance is on record for Backbone Falls (Spillway). The nearest town is Dundee. Confirm access and land status with Backbone State Park (Iowa DNR) before setting out — some documented falls have no public route at all.
Year-round (spillway flows year-round). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Iowa waterfalls
Sources
Get trip conditions by email
Lake grades, water temperature, and seasonal conditions as the data updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.