Prothonotary Warbler, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Cerulean Watbler

This trail covers a wide range of area. The lower portions find its way along Catfish Creek which gives the trail its name. The upper portion goes past rock out-croppings, through white Birch and River Birch forested areas. A savanna area on the east end includes Indian Mounds and 200+-year-old Oak trees.

Rich in history and natural resources, the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area in Dubuque is a National Historic Landmark waiting to be explored. Village sites, rock shelters and trading post sites dot the landscape, and the area was once the location for lead mining until after the Civil War. The Julien Dubuque Monument, honoring the area’s first European settler, sits high above the Mississippi River and serves as a landmark for the Mines of Spain area. This state recreation area provides ample opportunity for visitors to explore a variety of trails and learn more about the history of the state.