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The LoHi Trek is an annual multi-day hiking and camping excursion in western Iowa’s unique Loess Hills. This year, the Trek took place from October 17 through 20 in Mills and Fremont counties. The route included scenic gravel and dirt roads, state parks, and wildlife areas. . The idea for LoHi, which is short for Lo(ess) Hi(lls), started when Monona County resident Kelly Madigan hiked the length of Iowa's Loess Hills landform in 2020. Read about Kelly's journey and the previous LoHi Treks here. Trekkers arrived on the evening of Wednesday, October 16 to camp in Mills County. Due to a fairly large area without public lands, private landowner Anne Stoysich allowed the group to camp on her property. Prior to the Trek, several participants assisted with land stewardship and invasive species management on the Stoysich property as a token of appreciation. Each evening, the group received a briefing about the following day's route to help understand the route and logistics. During each leg of the journey, a lead hiker familiar with the route led the group, and many areas were marked with flagging tape. A 'sweep' at the end of the line made sure everyone made it through safely and picked up the flagging tape. Maps were given to trekkers prior to the event that could be viewed on mobile apps, and paper maps were also available. Trekkers were given information about Leave No Trace Principles and how to safely hike in the different areas, which included everything from well-maintained trails to public roadways to wildlife areas without designated trails. Hikers were checked in each morning and evening, and were encouraged to find at least one hiking buddy for safety. The group included a mix of previous trekkers and new ones. Throughout the event, participants stepped up to volunteer for a variety of needed tasks to assist the organizers.  Trekkers watch a moonrise over the prairie. Photo by Lance Brisbois. Thursday morning, after coffee from J’s Coffee and a light breakfast, the hike began. Participants were shuttled with support from Faith in Action and local volunteers to the west side of the Loess Hills along the Missouri River floodplain, where they immediately went up Raleigh Road, locally known as “Lake Hill Road.” This road includes an iconic, deep road cut with high walls of loess forming a canyon along the roadway.  Hikers starting up Lake Hill Road. photo by Lance Brisbois  Lake Hill Road. Photo by Lance Brisbois  Lake Hill Road. photo by Lance Brisbois  Entrance to Lake Hill Road. photo by Seth Brooks. The route then continued on gravel roads to the historic Waubonsie Church, where lunch was catered by Classic Cafe from Malvern.  Trekkers hiking a gravel road in Mills County. photo by Lance Brisbois.  Trekkers on a gravel road in Mills County. photos by Lance Brisbois.  Trekkers hiked part of the Waubonsie Loop of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. photo by Seth Brooks Local resident Joyce Bolin gave a brief history of Waubonsie Church, which now only hosts two services per year (Christmas and Easter) and occasional weddings. Tara Mitchell with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation discussed the tribe’s history in the local area, and the church’s namesake, Chief Waubonsie, of the Potawatomie Tribe. Local landowner and camp host Anne Stoysich also discussed local history of the area.  Waubonsie Church. photo by Lance Brisbois  Joyce Bolin discusses the history of Waubonsie Church. photo by Lance Brisbois  Tara Mitchell, Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation, discusses local history to trekkers at Waubonsie Church. photo by Lance Brisbois Following lunch, trekkers passed through what locals call “Hastie Hollow,” another deep road cut through the Loess Hills on Pathfield Road.  Hastie Hollow. photo by Lance Brisbois  Hastie Hollow. photo by Lance Brisbois From there, they continued on gravel roads along the Waubonsie Loop of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, and nearly a mile through prairies and woods on private trails to their campsite on private land. Dinner was provided by Classic Cafe. Thursday's hike totaled about 9 miles.  Hikers emerge from Hastie Hollow. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on Waubonsie Loop of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. photo by Lance Brisbois  Hiker on Waubonsie Loop of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on privately owned trails in Mills County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private land in Mills County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Campsite in Mills County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Campsite in Mills County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Evening briefing at the campsite. photo by Lance Brisbois Friday morning, everyone packed up camp and drove south to Fremont County. There, they hiked a loop through Blackburn State Park and the adjacent Green Hollow Wildlife Management Area (WMA).  Green Hollow WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  Green Hollow WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  Green Hollow WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois Friday lunch was hosted at the Blackburn gazebo, again provided by Classic Cafe. Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Matt Dollison presented about the acquisition of Blackburn State Park, and his team's work with ecological restoration in southwest Iowa, including on several WMAs that the trekkers visited.  Lunch at Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Lunch at Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois Brilliant fall colors in the woods and prairies offered stunning views for the hikers back south through Blackburn State Park. Friday's route was about 5 miles.  Blackburn State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Blackburn State Park entrance. photo by Lance Brisbois After hiking, the group again drove south, where they camped at Waubonsie State Park and the nearby Eli Slusher WMA for Friday and Saturday evenings.  Trekkers caravan through rural Mills County. photo by Kelly Madigan Friday dinner was held at Wa-Shaw tee Lodge at Waubonsie, provided by the Hamburg Kiwanis and Hamburg Hometown Pride. Several trekkers presented poetry readings of their own poems. Saturday and Sunday breakfasts and coffee were provided by the Hamburg Community Schools’ Culinary Arts program, also hosted at Wa-Shawtee Lodge at Waubonsie S.P.  Dinner at Wa-Shawtee Lodge at Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois Saturday’s hike started on the northeast side of Waubonsie State Park and explored much of the equestrian area north of Highway 2.  Trekkers heading into Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois Hikers enjoyed a refreshing stop at Mincer Orchard for apples, cider, and other treats.  Hikers enjoying a stop at Mincer Orchard. photo by Lance Brisbois They then continued south through Waubonsie State Park, including the Valley Trail and scenic overlook, with lunch at the Overlook Shelter provided by Hamburg Culinary Arts.  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois   Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois At lunch on Saturday, trekker and local artist Anna Stoysich discussed her experience with the Artist in Residence program she participated in at Waubonsie. Park Manager Matt Moles also discussed the benefits the program has provided the park.  Lunch at Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Local artist Anna Stoysich discussed the Waubonsie Artist in Residence program. photo by Lance Brisbois  Each trekker received a bandana with the route map. photo by Lance Brisbois  Group photo taken by drone. provided by Kyle Ranney After lunch on Saturday, the group hiked more of the trails at Waubonsie, including the iconic prairie bluffs of Sunset Ridge overlooking the Missouri River floodplain into Nebraska.  Sunset Ridge at Waubonsie S.P. Photo by Nick Hildenbrandt  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  They then ventured into Eli Slusher WMA immediately to the south of Waubonsie S.P. Saturday's hike was nearly 9 miles.  Eli Slusher WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  Eli Slusher WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois   Eli Slusher WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  Eli Slusher WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois Dinner on Saturday evening included live music by Kelly McGovern and Brian Hull with Kelly Oh Brian band from Lincoln, NE, food from nearby Whiskey Springs, and desserts from Hamburg resident Angela Hullman.  Saturday dinner at Wa-Shawtee Lodge at Waubonsie State Park. photo by Lance Brisbois  Kelly Oh Brian playing live music during Saturday dinner. photo by Lance Brisbois Many trekkers were delighted to catch a faint glimpse of the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet after sunset.  Comet sighting. photo by Lance Brisbois Sunday morning started along Bluff Road at Slusher WMA (where Saturday ended), then went west and south into Draper Bottoms WMA. This wildlife area includes floodplain wetlands, with a panoramic view of the Loess Hills to the east. Hikers had conversations about the geology and history of the area, including the importance of wetlands for wildlife habitat and flood reduction.   Draper Bottoms WMA. photo by Nick Hildenbrandt.  Draper Bottoms WMA. photo by Sharon Carson From Draper, trekkers headed into the town of Hamburg, where lunch was hosted by Old Hamburg High/Cornelius Orthodox Christian Retreat Center.  Trekkers entering Old Hamburg High for Sunday lunch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Lunch at Old Hamburg High. photo by Lance Brisbois Following lunch, the hike went through O.S. Wing WMA, the southernmost WMA in the Iowa Loess Hills. The area included prairies and woods, with epic views of Nishnabotna and Missouri river valleys.  O.S. Wing WMA photo by Lance Brisbois  O.S. Wing WMA. photo by Lance Brisbois  O.S. Wing WMA. photo by Sharon Carson  O.S. Wing WMA photo by Lance Brisbois  O.S. Wing WMA photo by Lance Brisbois The Trek ended just south of O.S. Wing at the Missouri State line, and the southern terminus of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. The Sunday hike was around 7 miles.  Trekkers ending at the Missouri state line. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers ending at the Missouri state line. photo by Lance Brisbois You can also find a firsthand account of the event in this post by Trekker Patrick Swanson.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s LoHi Trek a success, including:
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