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News

25 Scenic Overlooks on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

5/23/2023

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Picture
Loess Hills Scenic Overlook (© 2016 Kenneth West)
"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it."
Shakespeare, As You Like It


To celebrate National Photography Month, we have put together a list of 25 scenic overlooks and viewpoints on or near the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. Some require no hiking, while other viewpoints, such as Mount Lucia in Stone State Park, can only be reached by hiking to them.

Below is an interactive Google Map to find where the overlooks are located. Also, we have included pictures of the overlooks, but not from each one on the list. Below the photos is a complete list of the 25 overlooks with more information.
Picture



Aalfs Family Preserve
Land status - Broken Kettle Grasslands
Overlook location - Butcher Rd south of Westfield
Access - via a kissing gate on Butcher Rd
Notes - Bench and interpretive panel overlooking the bison enclosure

Five Ridge Prairie Cabin

Land status - Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve
Overlook location - 26616 IA-12, Westfield, IA 51062
Access - Requires a hike up a steep trail
Notes - Cabin is perched on the ridge overlooking the Bix Sioux River and the Missouri River floodplain


Elk Point Overlook
Land status - Stone State Park
Overlook location - Stone State Park Dr, Sioux City, IA 51109
Access - Parking area on the park road
Notes - Overlooks the southern section of the state park


Dakota Point Overlook
Land status - Stone State Park
Overlook location ​- Dakota Point Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109
Access - Parking area on the park road
Notes - Overlooks the Big Sioux River and South Dakota


Kestrel Point
Land status - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
Overlook location - Bluestem Trail
Access - Requires hiking the nature center trails
Notes - Overlooks the nature center

Mount Lucia

Land status - Stone State Park
Overlook location ​- Mt. Lucia Trail
Access - Requires hiking the state park trails
​Notes - Views of Sioux City


War Eagle Park
Land status - War Eagle Park
Overlook location - Sioux City, IA 51103
Access - Ample parking lot
Notes - Overlooking I-29, the Missouri River, and Nebraska


Sergeant Floyd Monument
Land status - Sergeant Floyd Monument
Overlook location - 2601 S Lewis Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51103
Access - Ample parking lot
Notes - Views of I-29, Sioux City, Missouri River, and Nebraska

Loess Hills Scenic Overlook
Land status - Loess Hills State Forest - Preparation Canyon Unit
Overlook location - Oak Ave, Moorhead, IA 51558
Access - Wood platform that is wheelchair and stroller accessible
Notes - Interpretive panels and views of prairie ridges and state forest

Preparation Canyon State Park Viewpoint
Land status - Preparation Canyon State Park
Overlook location - Moorhead, IA 51558
Access - Via hiking trail; quickest access via the overnight camping parking lot off Highway 183
Notes - Bench atop a prairie ridge with views of the state park and Soldier River Valley

Murray Hill Scenic Overlook
Land status - Harrison County Conservation
Overlook location - 1634 Co Rd F20, Little Sioux, IA 51545
Access - Requires a short hike from the parking lot
Notes - Interpretive panels, picnic table, bench, and views of the Missouri River floodplain
​
Little Sioux Viewpoint
Land status - Loess Hills State Forest - Little Sioux Unit
Overlook location - 41.773667, -96.004111
Access - Requires hiking up a steep trail from the parking lot on 165th Trail
Notes - Bench overlooking the junction of the Soldier River Valley and Missouri River floodplain, and views of the Mondamin unit of the state forest

Mondamin Viewpoint

Land status - Loess Hills State Forest - Mondamin Unit
Overlook location - 41.721694, -95.964556
Access - Requires hiking the state forest trails, including a steep section from the south trailhead on Highway 127
Notes - Bench atop a steep ridge with views west of the Missouri River floodplain

Lincoln Highway Overlook
Land status - Harrison County Iowa Welcome Center
Overlook location - 2931 Monroe Ave, Missouri Valley, IA 51555
Access - Requires walking a paved path from the welcome center
Notes - Overlooking the Lincoln Highway

Loveland Scenic Overlook Tower
Land status - I-880 rest area
Overlook location - 16614 I-880, Honey Creek, IA 51542
Access - Stairs to top of the overlook tower
Notes - Overlooking I-880 and the surrounding Loess Hills

Loess Hills Lodge & HawkWatch Tower
Land status - Hitchcock Nature Center
Overlook location - 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542
Access - HawkWatch Tower requires climbing up stairs, while there is a viewing platform around the Lodge
Notes - Views of the nature center​

Badger Ridge Viewpoint

Land status - Hitchcock Nature Center
Overlook location - Badger Ridge Trail
Access - Requires hiking one-half mile from the Badger Ridge Trailhead
Notes - Views of the southern section of the nature center and the Simon Run valley

Lewis & Clark Monument Overlook
Land status - Lewis and Clark Monument Park
Overlook location - 19962 Monument Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Access - Accessible for wheelchairs and strollers
Notes - Views of planes landing and taking off from Eppley Airfield and the Omaha skyline

Lookout Point
Land status - Fairmount Park
Overlook location - End of Park Rd
Access - Small parking area at the end of Park Rd
Notes - Views west of Council Bluffs and downtown Omaha

West Oak Forest Viewpoint
Land status - West Oak Forest
Overlook location - 41.0742, -95.81053
Access - Requires a steep hike from the parking lot to the ridge, then additional hiking along the ridge
Notes - Views of the Missouri River floodplain

Pony Creek Park Overlook Tower
Land status - Pony Creek Park
Overlook location - 41.06962, -95.78753
Access - Requires hiking the park's trails
Notes - Views of Pony Creek

Mile Hill Lake Scenic Overlook
Land status - Mile Hill Lake
Overlook location - 21193 US, Mile Hill Lake Park, US-34, Pacific Junction, IA 51561
Access - Viewing platform at the parking lot
Notes - Overlooking Mile Hill Lake

Riverton Wildlife Overlook
Land status - Riverton Wildlife Management Area
Overlook location - 40.7181, -95.5658
Access - Wood platform 
Notes - Overlooking the northern section of the wildlife area

Waubonsie State Park Scenic Overlook
Land status - Waubonsie State Park
Overlook location - 40.67549, -95.69093
Access - Near the parking lot near the park office
Notes - Benches and interpretive panels overlooking the state park
​
Sunset Ridge Viewpoint
Land status - Waubonsie State Park
Overlook location ​- 40.67206, -95.70318
Access - Requires hiking Sunset Ridge Trail

Notes - Interpretive panel and view overlooking the Missouri River floodplain

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