2026 LoHi Trek passed through Monona & Woodbury counties

4/27/2026

From April 9 through 12, the 2026 LoHi Trek traversed portions of Monona and Woodbury counties in the northern Loess Hills. The LoHi Trek, short for Lo(ess) Hi(lls), is an annual four-day hiking & camping event in this unique and special landform. The Trek was the brainchild of Monona County resident Kelly Madigan, inspired by her 2020 walk through the length of Iowa’s Loess Hills. Since 2021, Kelly has partnered with Golden Hills to host the event, which moves locations each year.

The Trek is more than a hike, though--it's an immersive, place-based, community-building experience that brings people together to enjoy, learn about, and deepen their appreciation of western Iowa's unique Loess Hills. Golden Hills provides Trekkers with all meals and snacks, 4 nights of facilitated camping and daily educational activities, and 4 days of supported hiking with expert guides.

Group size is intentionally limited to help build a sense of community and shared purpose in the group. We keep the registration fee affordable and offer financial assistance options to keep the event accessible. Registration for the 2026 Trek filled within minutes of being open and has a long waiting list.

basecamp in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

The 2026 event began Wednesday evening, April 8, when Trekkers arrived at base camp to set up. On the way in, several participants stopped at nearby Tuuli Farm for a tour. They stayed at the same site on private land each night through Sunday morning. Wednesday dinner included soups prepared by Juggs BBQ.

basecamp. photo by Lance Brisbois

Each morning, coffee was provided by Graceful Grind Coffeehouse of Mapleton. Breakfasts also included yogurt, fruit, eggs, and overnight oats. Thursday’s hike (Day 1) was around 11 miles, mostly on public lands managed by Woodbury County Conservation Board, starting at Oak Ridge Conservation Area. The group was given access to hike through and have lunch on private property Thursday near Oto.

Oak Ridge Conservation Area in Woodbury County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers at Oak Ridge Conservation Area. photo by Micayla Miller

Lunch was donated and served by volunteers from the Northwest Iowa Group Sierra Club. During lunch, Brodie Skinner with Woodbury County Conservation Board discussed the organization’s work with protecting and restoring thousands of acres of Loess Hills prairies & woodlands.

Lunch talk by Brodie Skinner with Woodbury County Conservation Board. photo by Lance Brisbois

After lunch, the group hiked some scenic Level B dirt roads, and ended at Southwood Conservation Area.

Curious cattle watching the Trekkers pass by. photo by Jana Lanhorst

Southwood Conservation Area in Woodbury County .photo by Lance Brisbois

Southwood Conservation Area in Woodbury County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Rain mostly held off for the hike, with only some scattered light showers throughout the day. More rain hit after the group was at base camp, but hikers were spared severe weather and heavy downpours. Back at basecamp, Thursday’s Asian-inspired dinner was catered by Livengoodies.

Day 2 (Friday) covered 11 miles with a mix of prairie ridges (full of blooming pasque flowers), wooded valleys (with a bit of bushwhacking), and a short stretch of gravel roads. Numerous local volunteers showed up to provide transportation from base camp to Utterback Pond on Friday morning. The hike began with a few miles through Loess Hills Wildlife Area.

Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Melanie Vote

Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Sharon Carson

The route then went through Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. Loess Hills Wildlife Area and Sylvan Runkel State Preserve are public lands owned and managed by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Ryan Pelster

Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois

From Sylvan Runkel, hikers walked some gravel roads, and had lunch (sandwiches prepared that morning by the trekkers) before returning into the southern portion of Loess Hills Wildlife Area.

Day 2 lunch spot. photo by Lance Brisbois

pasque flower blooming on the route. photo by Amy Brown

Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois

Local resident Janet Wakehouse hosted a much-appreciated rest-stop with refreshments on the way. Friday included embedded experts on the hike, including Iowa DNR District Forester Sarah Bell and Private Lands Biologist Megann Schmidt. Trekkers ended day two by hiking back to basecamp.

Neighborhood rest stop. photo by Lance Brisbois

Loess Hills Wildlife Area, overlooking basecamp. photo by Lance Brisbois

Friday dinner, provided by local resident & volunteer Jane Daniel, included a Greek meal featuring locally-sourced lamb from Tuuli Farm. Massive lemon bars from Ada J’s Steakhouse in Ute were a popular dessert. After dinner, trekker Wendell Bronson gave an educational talk about the geology, history, and ecology of the Loess Hills.

Friday dinner. photo by Lance Brisbois

Wendell Bronson discussing the Loess Hills. photo by Lance Brisbois

Day 3 (Saturday) included a few miles of hiking through privately owned land with special permission in Monona County.

Special thank you Kody Wohlers with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for leading the group on Saturday!

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Melanie Vote

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Kody Wohlers

View from private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Melanie Vote

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Kody Wohlers

The historic Mann One-Room Country School House was the lunch site, prepared by Loess Hills Country Corner in Pisgah.

Lunch at Mann School. photo by Lance Brisbois

After lunch, the group hiked through more private land.

Earlier this year, a group of trekkers and partners volunteered to clear eastern red cedars that have encroached on the prairie ridges. This made Saturday’s hike much easier, with a cleared tunnel through the cedar thickets.

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekker on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers resting on the route. photo provided by Melanie Vote

Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois

The day ended with a loop at the iconic Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of Loess Hills State Forest. DNR technician Mark Vos also provided expertise and navigation support on Saturday and Sunday.

Loess Hills State Forest - Scenic Overlook. photo by Lance Brisbois

Loess Hills State Forest - Scenic Overlook trail. photo by Lance Brisbois

Saturday dinner back at basecamp featured a taco bar, with beef donated by Nebraska Beef, greens from Long Walk Farm and Cleo’s Homestead.

Saturday dinner. photo by Lance Brisbois

After dinner, everyone shared reflections of the event around the campfire and received shirts designed by trekker Melanie Vote.

Participants opening their 2026 LoHi Trek shirts. photo by Lance Brisbois

Participants collectively created a fabric arts loom project (designed and facilitated by Anna Stoysich and Natalie Jackson) at basecamp, and took a group photo wearing our shirts with the loom.

group photo with LoHi Trek shirts in front of the loom.

Sunday, the final day of the 2026 LoHi Trek, was the shortest of the four days. Trekkers hiked about six miles through the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, which is now part of the Preparation Canyon Unit of Loess Hills State Forest.

The route included abundant woodlands, as well as high-quality remnant prairie ridges. Saturday included a silent stretch, where trekkers were encouraged to walk in silence and reflect on their experiences.

Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois

Ending point of the 2026 LoHi Trek at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois

Trekkers headed home on Sunday. They came from across Iowa, Nebraska, and as far as Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, and New York.

The LoHi Trek is an incredibly collaborative and supportive event that couldn’t exist without countless partners, supporters, volunteers, and all of the trekkers stepping up to support one another. Each day, participants have options to shorten their hike.

Hikers assist each other with reading maps and overcoming obstacles throughout the Trek. Participants also assist with cooking and cleaning. Hiker Nancy Markow led yoga classes, and Marianne Zarzana taught Hoopyogini. Several previous trekkers shared stories of reflection and connection about how the LoHi has impacted them. A few trekkers with medical backgrounds agreed to serve as designated first aid volunteers.

A theme of natural resource conservation is integrated into the Trek. We strive to reduce our environmental footprint by using cloth napkins, serving our meals on real dishes, and encouraging recycling whenever possible.

While phones are often used for navigation, photos, and communication during the event, Trekkers are encouraged to reduce screen time and be fully present as much as possible throughout the event. This is easier, of course, in areas without cell reception! This contributes to building a sense of community that is often lacking in today’s overstimulating world. This community is one of the most-cited reasons that Trekkers come back each year.

Dates and location for the next LoHi Trek have not been set yet, but stay tuned with Golden Hills!

Thank you to our 2026 LoHi Trek sponsors, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa!

Local Businesses Supported by this year’s Trek include: