GOLDEN HILLS RC&D
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Where We Work
  • Donate

News

Enjoy the fall colors on western Iowa's scenic byways

10/7/2020

0 Comments

 
October is an excellent time to visit Loess Hills National Scenic Byway™, Western Skies Scenic Byway, and Glacial Trail Scenic Byway in western Iowa. Peak fall foliage generally occurs earlier in the north and later in the south. Check out the Iowa Department of Natural Resources'  weekly fall color report.
Picture
Loess Hills National Scenic Byway runs from near Akron in the north to Hamburg in the south. The northern end is located in Plymouth County in northwest Iowa, with peak colors predicted from the last week of September through the second week of October. Stone State Park in Sioux City is one great place to go leaf-peeping. Colors along Glacial Trail Scenic Byway in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, & O'Brien counties will peak in the same timeframe.

Western Skies Scenic Byway is in Harrison, Shelby, Audubon and Guthrie counties in west-central Iowa. Peak colors are expected in the first through third weeks of October.

Floodplain forests along the Missouri River valley are abundant with glowing gold cottonwoods. Desoto National Wildlife Refuge near Missouri Valley is an exemplary location for cottonwood woodlands. 
Picture
Cottonwood floodplain forest at Desoto. Photo by Lance Brisbois
On the steep Loess Hills bluffs, tallgrass prairie grasses have turned to their characteristic amber-gold and wine-red hues. These colors contrast with the occasional dark-green coniferous junipers (eastern red cedars). Staghorn sumac and poison ivy are turning bright red. Yellow goldenrods and purple asters also dot the prairies. 
Picture
Loess Hills Scenic Overlook, Monona County. Photo by Lance Brisbois
Picture
Loess Hills State Forest in Harrison County Photo by Lance Brisbois
The southern Loess Hills, including Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, generally have greater tree species diversity and thus a wider array of tree foliage colors. 
PictureWaubonsie State Park in Fremont County. Photo by Lance Brisbois

Similarly, some of the woodlands in Guthrie County (such as at Whiterock Conservancy and Springbrook State Park) have more diversity than the western Loess Hills, including more colorful maples. 
Picture
Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids Photo by Lance Brisbois
Picture
Springbrook State Park in Guthrie County. Photo by Lance Brisbois
In addition to public parks and wildlife areas, exploring backroads can be one of the best ways to see fall colors. This is especially useful for folks who may not be able to hike or bike through the hills. Loess Hills National Scenic Byway includes 185 miles of Excursion Loops, many of which traverse the most scenic, rugged, and rural terrain in the region. 
Picture
County road on the Missouri River floodplain in Mills County. Photo by Lance Brisbois
Picture
County road in Fremont County. Photo by Lance Brisbois
Wherever you go, you will also likely see the golden fields of corn and soybeans before they are harvested. On a sunny day, they contrast with bright blue skies for a spectacular spectacle. Have fun exploring rural western Iowa by automobile, bike, on foot, or however you choose!
Picture
Iowa cornfield in autumn. Photo by Lance Brisbois
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Address

712 South Highway Street 
P.O. Box 189
​Oakland, IA 51560

Contact

Phone: 712-482-3029

Visit our Staff Page for email addresses.



Hours

​Office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday, Closed all federal holidays.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Where We Work
  • Donate