Hickory Hills Park is a unique area both in terms of its natural beauty and strategic location. The park’s 723 acres include one of the area’s unusual geologic features: a paha. Paha is a Native American word meaning high ground. The diverse topography of the area is characteristic of a paha. Casey's Paha was dedicated as a State Preserve in 1989.Although established in Tama County in 1969, the Black Hawk County Conservation Board owns and manages the area. A Park Ranger is in residence year-round.
The park offers many leisure and recreation opportunities including camping, basketball, picnicking, sand volleyball, disc golf, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating. Snowmobiles are not allowed. Several miles of hiking trails offer park users a chance to witness nature’s endless variety. The 39 acre Casey Lake, nestled between scenic forested slopes, is one of Northeast Iowa's premiere largemouth bass hot spots.