High bluffs with scenic views of the Mississippi River, 617 acres with timbered walking trails, a unique butterfly sanctuary and an enclosed nature center are just some of the features that make Bellevue State Park so special. Picnickers at the Nelson Unit can enjoy beautiful views of the Mississippi River. The "Garden Sanctuary for Butterflies" is located nearby. This unique area contains over 100 separate plots, each featuring plants which provide food and habitat for butterflies. A network of pathways allows visitors to walk through the garden and see a wide variety of butterflies as well as enjoy the beautiful array of flowers and the pond in the center. A nearby playground offers fun for the younger visitors. The Dyas Unit encompasses over 5 miles of foot trails, scenic overlooks, a self-guided nature trail and a stream with beaver dams, aquatic and other wildlife. In winter, bald eagles concentrate to feed near the open waters below Lock and Dam 12. Pileated woodpeckers are occasionally seen in isolated areas. Bellevue State Park is located just south of the picturesque town of Bellevue.

• Visit the "Garden Sanctuary for Butterflies."
• Take Trail #3: it starts at the South Bluff Nature Center. It wanders through a three acre prairie, past numerous habitat plantings, through food plots established for wildlife and past Iowa's only "Garden Sanctuary for Butterflies", unique in the Midwest. The trail also serves cross-country skiers.