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Photo by Lance Brisbois
Get away ... from everything. When it's time to escape from the hustle and the bustle of your everyday life and finally spend some time in serenity, the Loess Hills are your destination. Unique, breathtaking scenery ... original, authentic, "down-home cooking" ... remarkable attractions ... and most of all, peace. Check these seven things off your Loess Hills bucket list!
1. See the bison at Broken Kettle Grasslands
Photo by Geof Fischer
The best way to see the bison is to drive the Butcher Road Connection loop of the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. The Aalfs Family Preserve Overlook is located on Butcher Road and provides a stunning view of Broken Kettle Grasslands.
2. Learn about the Loess Hills at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
© 2016 Kenneth West
Hike a trail and let prairie grasses tickle your chin. Explore bur oak forests with 150-year old giants. Climb the ridges and imagine what Lewis and Clark might have seen. Learn at the award-winning Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center located in the heart of the Loess Hills.
The center is over 14,000 square feet large and boasts an amphitheater, playground, exhibits, gardens, and hiking trails, among other amenities. Admission is free to the general public. Hiking trails connect to adjacent Stone State Park. Woodbury County Conservation staff offer a wide array of environmental education and outdoor recreation programs. 
Coneflower outside Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
3. Visit the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook
Photo by Seth Brooks
When approaching the western border of Iowa, travelers are often intrigued by the view of a most extraordinary landscape of prairie and forest covered steep bluffs, narrow ridges and rolling hills. Dubbed "The Spot" by local legend Walter Ordway, Jr., the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook is a must-see stop on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway.
The accessible overlook platform offers 360-degree views of the Loess Hills in Monona County. There is a short, one-mile loop that traverses the ridge, then dips into the valley before returning on another ridge. The trail also connects to other trails in the Loess Hills State Forest. 
© 2016 Kenneth West
4. Hike Brent's Trail
Photo by Lance Brisbois
Brent's Trail is an 8-mile hiking trail connecting Harrison County Conservation’s Murray Hill Scenic Overlook and Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area via the Loess Hills State Forest. The trail is the start of a proposed trail that will eventually connect the northern and southern ends of the State Forest. The trail is named after longtime state forester Brent Olson.
Brent's Trail is open to the public daily, year-round. Hikers should note that this is a rugged hike on dirt and grass surfaces. Water and restrooms are not available, so hikers should come prepared for a true backcountry experience unlike anything else in Iowa. Primitive, dispersed camping is allowed within Loess Hills State Forest. The route is marked with metal oak leaf signs. A southern extension was added in 2021, allowing hikers to extend their hike for an 11-mile trek. 5. HawkWatch at Hitchcock Nature Center
© 2016 Kenneth West
Every year, from September through December, birds of prey enthusiasts gather at Hitchcock Nature Center to observe & count thousands of eagles, hawks, and other raptors as they migrate south.
Hitchcock HawkWatch is a volunteer-driven research project based at Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa. Staffed by dozens of volunteers and one paid seasonal employee, this hawk watch effort counts an average of 13,000 migrating raptors annually. Occupying the observation tower at Hitchcock Nature Center, our team watches from a vantage point providing a 360-degree view of the Missouri River Valley. The official hawk watch season is from September 1st through December 13th annually. Hitchcock Nature Center is an optimal location to view the annual migration of numerous species of raptors due to its position in the Missouri River Valley. Here prevailing westerly winds create near-perfect conditions for migrating raptors as they soar on thermals and topographically-induced upward wind deflections on their journey south. 6. Explore B-Level Roads
Vertical faces of loess in road cuts and gully walls have been known to stand for more than a hundred years, in contrast to loess slopes, which are prone to some of the highest erosion rates in the country. The style of roadcuts throughout the Loess Hills reflects the capacity of exposed loess to maintain nearly vertical faces.
Many impressive, nearly vertical road cuts can be seen on several level B, minimum maintenance roads in the Loess Hills. Mills County, in particular, has several of the most impressive level B roads such as Hastie Hollow (Pathfield Road) and Lake Hill (Raleigh Road) are very fun to drive. Fulton Ave in Harrison County is another highlight. One note of caution: don't drive level B roads if they are muddy. All-wheel drive and high clearence are also recommended. Check outIowa Road Trip's favorite level B roads in the Loess Hill.s. 7. See the fall colors at Waubonsie State Park
Photos by Lance Brisbois
As a site on the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail, Waubonsie State Park in southwest Iowa is known for its exceptional vistas of Iowa’s unique Loess Hills and the Nebraska plains. Its extensive trail system offers something for the avid mountain biker, equestrians looking for a relaxing ride, or anyone eager to hike amongst the tranquil surroundings of the park’s ridgetop prairies and shaded woodland valleys. With nearly 2,000 acres of recreational opportunity and quiet beauty, Waubonsie State Park is an Iowa gem waiting to be explored.
Peak fall color viewing at Waubonsie State Park is typically from mid to late October. Check the Iowa DNR's Fall Color Report for updates and estimates on peak color. 
© 2016 Kenneth West
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