Entry No. 40 — the Des Moines file — filed under: stone-tower
Clark Tower
Clark Tower is a genuine 25-foot limestone castle-tower built in 1926, reached by a one-way, one-lane gravel road winding a mile through Winterset City Park — you climb the spiral exterior steps and a steep interior metal staircase to a rooftop overlook above the Middle River Valley that most park visitors never find. It survived a direct hit from an EF4 tornado in March 2022, which somehow makes it even more dramatic.
The story
In 1926, the sons of Caleb and Ruth Clark—some of the earliest white settlers in Madison County—decided against a standard headstone. Instead, they quarried local limestone and stacked a 25-foot medieval turret deep in the oak timber high above the Middle River Valley. Why build a Norman-style keep in rural Iowa? Because they could, and because nothing says pioneer legacy quite like a fortress hidden in the woods.
The tower looks like an ancient ruin dropped into the Midwest, and it behaves like one too. In March 2022, an EF4 tornado ripped through Madison County, splintering trees all around the site. The limestone tower took a direct hit and barely flinched. With its centennial coming up in August 2026, the structure remains oddly invincible, standing completely unbothered by time or weather.
What it's like
Getting there is half the secrecy: you have to navigate a narrow, one-lane gravel road that twists for a mile into Winterset City Park, where you'll pray you don't meet anyone coming the other way. Once you park, climb the exterior stone spiral steps, then squeeze through the narrow opening and scale a steep metal interior ladder to the rooftop. From the top, you get an uninterrupted, canopy-level view of the valley that standard park visitors completely miss. Aim for golden hour right before the gates lock at sunset, and bring a flashlight just in case.
The move: Drive the narrow one-way gravel road into the park at golden hour, hike or park and walk the final stretch to the tower, then climb the winding stone steps and the steep metal ladder to stand on top together for a hidden valley panorama — bring a blanket to spread on the grass below afterward and watch the light fade over the limestone bluffs.
📍 Before you go The tower sits about a mile inside Winterset City Park, at the end of a narrow, one-way, one-lane gravel road that twists through the woods — fine for a normal car but not for RVs or trailers, so take it slow. Access is seasonal: the road is generally open spring through fall and closed in winter, and it closes nightly around sunset, so golden hour is your window, not after dark. There's no admission and no reservations; it's a public park, so just be patient with oncoming cars on the single lane. While you're in the park, pair it with the Cutler-Donahoe covered bridge nearby, and Winterset itself adds John Wayne's birthplace and more of Madison County's famous bridges.
- 📍 Winterset
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2278 Clark Tower Rd, Winterset, IA 50273 (Winterset City Park, ~1 mile in on the one-way gravel road)
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Harmon Tunnel at Pammel State Park — Pair one limestone anomaly with another by driving four miles southwest to cut through Iowa's only hand-dug auto tunnel.
- PepperHarrow Farm — Balance out the cold stone tower with a trip less than a mile away to stroll through working lavender fields.
- Annett Nature Center observation tower — If climbing high over timber is your thing, drive east into Warren County to compare views from a 30-foot wooden stargazing tower.
Good to know
Can my vehicle make it up the gravel road?
Normal cars handle the one-way gravel loop fine if you take it slow, but leave the RVs, low-riders, and oversized trailers behind.
Is Clark Tower open year-round?
The gate to the gravel road is seasonal, closing to cars during the winter months. You can still visit in winter, but you'll have to hike the mile-long road on foot.
Is there any cost or ticket required?
No, it sits inside a public city park and is entirely free to visit. Just respect the sunset park closure.
Is the climb accessible for everyone?
No. Reaching the rooftop requires climbing exterior stone steps followed by a steep interior metal ladder through a tight opening.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: exploremadisoncounty.com · Wikipedia · Yelp · Roadside America · catchdesmoines.com
last checked: 2026-06-07