Cabins on the Byways

3/16/2023

Last week we posted about camping on the three scenic byways that Golden Hills coordinates in western Iowa. With Memorial Day weekend approaching, and with it the summer outdoor recreation season, now is the time to make plans and reservations for campsites, as well as cabins.

There are numerous parks on the byways that have cabins available to rent, with options with modern showers, Wi-Fi, and smart TVs, t0 rustic cabins without running water or electricity. We have compiled a spreadsheet listing the cabins at parks managed by the Iowa DNR and county conservation boards on the Glacial Trail Scenic Byway, Loess Hill National Scenic Byway, and Western Skies Scenic Byway.

To view the spreadsheet of cabins on the byways managed by the Iowa DNR and county conservation boards, click here. There are three tabs at the bottom for each separate byway. The information was collected from Iowa DNR and county conservation board websites. It is recommended that you contact the managing agency directly if you have questions or to confirm amenities and availability.

Cabins on the Byways spreadsheet

Camping Cabin at Five Ridge Prairie on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

There are also cabins managed by private individuals and organizations; check out previous blog posts about Unique Places to Stay on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway and Unique Places to Stay on Western Skies and Glacial Trail Scenic Byways.

Glacial Trail Scenic Byway

O'Brien County has the most camping cabins on the Glacial Trail Scenic Byway. There are two traditional cabins at Dog Creek Park, as well as two grain bins that have been converted into cabins! Mill Creek Park has two cabins that can accommodate up to six people and two other cabins that can accommodate up to 12. The larger cabins are open from the beginning of April until the end of December.

Grain bin cabins at Dog Creek Park

Cherokee County has a variety of cabins available to rent at three different parks. Uncle Tom's Cabin has 1.5 miles of riverside trails to explore. The popular Martin's Access has three small cabins and one larger cabin for families to get away for a weekend. The Silver Sioux Lodge at Silver Sioux Recreation Area can accommodate large groups with 8 double beds.

Uncle Tom's Cabin at River Road Conservation Area

The only cabin in Buena Vista is at Buena Vista County Conservation Park. It can sleep up to 10 or 12 people. It is open year round, including winter when the tubing hill is open to enjoy a fun winter weekend with family and friends. The ADA-accessible cabin has a full kitchen with cooking and kitchen utensils, making packing easier and lighter.

Oak Cabin at Buena Vista County Conservation Park

Three cabins at Scharnberg Park in Clay County are available to rent year-round. Each cabin has different sleep options, so check the Clay County Conservation Board's website for the cabin that best suits your needs. They also have TV and Wi-Fi, so if you don't want to get off the grid completely, they are great options for a relaxing holiday or weekend.

Maple Cabin at Scharnberg Park

Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

Cabin at Hillview Recreation Area

The rustic cabin at Five Ridge Prairie in Plymouth County has the most dramatic setting and scenic views on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, and perhaps on all three byways that Golden Hills coordinates in western Iowa. Plymouth CCB also has a cabin available at Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton with two twin beds and two full beds.

Falcon Cabin at Snyder Bend Park

With thirteen total cabins at four parks, Woodbury County has the most cabins on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. The four cabins at Little Sioux Park are the most affordable but only have two twin-over-full bunk beds. Snyder Bend Park has four cabins available year-round that can accommodate larger groups, while the cabins at Southwood Conservation Area and Stone State Park are also available all year.

RT Reese Cabin at RT Reese Homestead

Monona County has only one cabin, but it is located on a unique property. The RT Reese Homestead is nestled along the slope of the Loess Hills overlooking the Missouri River floodplain. The Homestead is surrounded by 713 acres of public land. It's a great place for a hiking group to explore the adjacent Turin Preserve Wildlife Area, Loess Hills Wildlife Area, and Sylvan Runkel State Preserve.

King Cabin at Willow Lake Recreation Area

Willow Lake Recreation Area in Harrison County has six cabins to explore the six miles of trails, fish or swim the 27-acre lake, and explore the new Willow Lake Nature Center that opens in spring 2023. The nature center will feature interactive exhibits about water, watersheds, wildlife and habitats.

Cottonwood Cabin at Arrowhead Park

Arrowhead Park and Hitchcock Nature Center in Pottawattamie County have a total of eight cabins to enjoy a summer vacation. Arrowhead has a variety of options, from large cabins with modern amenities to cozier cabins. The cabins at Hitchcock are smaller and reasonbly priced. All cabins are available to rent year-round.

Cabin at Pony Creek Park

Golden Hills was awarded a grant from the Iowa West Foundation for the Loess Hills Missouri River Region Cabin Initiative to partner with Harrison, Mills, and Pottawattamie county conservation boards to construct new cabins. Thanks to this partnership, Pony Creek Park in Mills County now has two rental cabins. These cabins are not yet online but can be rented by contacting Mills County Conservation Board.

Kahiga Cabin at Waubonsie State Park

Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County has eight cabins to rent. Three of the cabins (Kahiga, Mischanaka, and Shagbark) can only be rented for one week from Friday to Friday beginning on Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The other five cabins have minimum two-night stay. Six of the cabins are pet-friendly!

Western Skies Scenic Byway

Willow Lake Recreation Area in Harrison County has six cabins to explore the six miles of trails, fish or swim the 27-acre lake, and explore the new Willow Lake Nature Center that will open in spring 2023. The nature center will feature interactive exhibits about water, watersheds, wildlife and habitats!

Scotch Pine at Willow Lake Recreation Area

Nishna Bend Recreation Area in Shelby County has two quaint cabins, both located on water. The 80-acre recreation area contains over 30 acres of wetland created from past gravel mining operations. The ponds left from past mining operations contain bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill and bullhead to delight any angler.

Cabin 2 at Nishna Bend Recreation Area

The remote 805 River Cabin in Guthrie County at Whiterock Conservancy was moved into the valley from Coon Rapids years ago. It’s a rustic retreat sitting between a spring-fed pond and the Middle Raccoon River. Another option in Shelby County, the Sherburne House at Springbrook State Park, can sleep 10 to 14 people, offers scenic views of the area near the west side of the park.

805 River Cabin at Whiterock Conservancy

There are no camping cabins in Audubon County at parks managed by the Iowa DNR or Audubon County Conservation. For campsites and unique places to stay in Audubon County, check out our blog posts Camping on the Byways and Unique Places to Stay on Western Skies and Glacial Trail Scenic Byways.

For a detailed spreadsheet of cabins on the byways managed by the Iowa DNR and county conservation boards, click the link below.