Bixby State Preserve facts for kids

Ice Cave at Bixby State Preserve

Bixby State Preserve is a special nature area in southwestern Clayton County, Iowa. It is located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of Edgewood. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages this preserve. It is one of Iowa's official state preserves.

Discover Bixby State Preserve

A Unique Ecosystem

Bixby State Preserve is one of the few places on Earth with "algific talus slopes." These are very rare landforms. Because of these slopes, Bixby has a unique ecosystem. You can find similar areas only in a region called the Driftless Area. This area includes parts of Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northwestern Illinois.

How Ice Caves Form

Bixby State Preserve is famous for its amazing ice caves. These caves form in a special way. In winter and early spring, warm air rises from underground sinkholes. This pulls cold, moist air into cracks in the north-facing slopes. This air then travels into the ice caves. Inside, the cold air turns into ice on the cave walls.

In summer and fall, the process reverses. Cool, moist air flows out of the caves onto the slopes. This creates a very cool and damp environment. This unique climate allows special plants and animals to live here. Many of these species are found nowhere else nearby.

Visiting Bixby State Preserve

The main road into Bixby State Preserve is closed on both the north and south sides. However, the south entrance is open during the summer months. This allows visitors to explore parts of the preserve. If you enjoy fishing, you can also go trout fishing here.