The Palisades-Dows Preserve is a 162 acre preserve and home to the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center. There are limestone rock faces along hollows and lining the Cedar River.

This area is located across West of the Cedar River - across the river from Palisades-Kepler State Park.

Be aware that there are no real hiking trails, the forest and vegetation are dense, and the hills leading to the river are steep, so this is not an easily accessible area. Be prepared to explore / hike.

The preserve is located along Ivanhoe Road SE of Cedar Rapids and SW of Mount Vernon.

There is parking at the Eastern Iowa Observatory, located on the edge of the preserve, but there are no obvious hiking trails down to the rocks.

A faster way to explore the area is by kayak, parking across river at Palisades Kepler State Park, and rowing across.