Provings Grounds is a 137 acre recreation area is located north of Dubuque. The unique beauty of the Driftless region of Iowa is very evident here with the limestone rock outcroppings, upland timber, restored prairies, wildlife, and panoramic scenery. In 2018, John Deere Dubuque Works donated the property to the Dubuque County Conservation Board. The name Proving Grounds was selected for this area because previously John Deere used the grounds to test and prove out the quality of their machines and products. Also, the name was selected because when it comes to outdoor recreation, people often are trying to challenge themselves, establish mental and physical goals, and ultimately prove it to themselves that they can do what they set out to do. Thus, this area offers hiking trails, picnic areas under the pavilion, frisbee golf and mountain bike/ multi use trails. Find this geocache up past the prairie, while looking for this geocache, be mindful of private property on the other side of the fence. The geocache is located within the the property of Proving Grounds.
The Great Dubuque County Geocaching Series highlights the public parks, campgrounds, preserves, wildlife & recreation areas managed by the Dubuque County Conservation Board. With 2,358 acres of property, Dubuque County has, "Something for Everyone", in terms of fishing, hiking, frisbee golfing, hunting, camping, boating, biking, and many more activities. 16 geocaches are hidden throughout these Dubuque County areas where you will venture to rivers, prairies, bluffs, forests, mounds, a canyon, and find a diversity of plants and animals while you're at it. Within each of the posted geocaches is a clue for a hidden, bonus, geocache. Put all the clues/digits in alphabetical order of the parks, to create the coordinates of the bonus geocache. Example: Bankston (N), Bowstring (5), Fillmore (8°) would be N 58°. 2 parks do NOT have geocaches due to previous geocaches there, the clues of these parks for the bonus geocache are: Graf Park (3) and Massey Park (0') Happy geocaching!