There are six places in Harrison County on the Western Skies Scenic Byway that offer hiking opportunities. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is a birder's dream with trails through prairie and woodlands. Harrison County Conservation manages several areas with fully developed trail systems and areas with only off-trail hiking. The trails at Old Town Conservation area, for example, offer a quiet hiking experience only half an hour from Council Bluffs and Omaha. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (source: Golden Hills RC&D) DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located along the Missouri River and borders both Iowa and Nebraska. Within its 8,365 acres lies DeSoto Lake, an oxbow lake that used to be a bend in the Missouri River. The refuge contains bottomland forests, tallgrass prairie, and wetland habitats that are managed to mimic the natural Missouri River floodplain habitat to benefit a diversity of migratory birds that flock to the refuge each year in the spring and fall. The refuge also contains a piece of history within its borders, the Bertrand Steamboat. The Bertrand sunk on the bend of river that is now DeSoto Lake, leaving behind the cargo and historic time pieces amounting to almost 250,000 different artifacts housed within the walls of the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is truly a place where wildlife meets history! The refuge provides hiking opportunities through a diversity of refuge habitat. The Bertrand Excavation Site Trail and the Cottonwood and Grassland Nature Trails are open year round on the Nebraska side of DeSoto Lake. The Green Heron Trail and the Missouri Meander Trail are seasonal trails open April 15 - October 14. For detailed information about each trail, check the refuge's trails website. text source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Manager: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Size: 8,365 acres Trails: 3 miles GPS: 41.52649, -96.02794 (Cottonwood and Grasslands Nature Trail) GPS: 41.54044, -96.03132 (Green Heron Trail and Missouri Meander Trail) Camping: No Amenities: Visitor center, restrooms, water, parking Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: Yes; check the refuge website for hunting seasons and regulations. Other activities: Auto tour, biking, birding, boating (motorized and non-motorized), fishing, and more. Check the refuge website for a full list of permitted activities.  DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (source: Golden Hills RC&D)  Trumpeter swans at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (source: Golden Hills RC&D)  DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) Harrison County Historical Village & Iowa Welcome Center Harrison County Historical Village & Iowa Welcome Center (source: Golden Hills RC&D) Owned and operated by the Harrison Conservation Board, the Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center is located 3 miles northeast of Missouri Valley on Highway 30 (five miles east of Interstate 29, Exit 75). This museum complex is straight out of the 1800s, with an original log cabin, general store, and school. The official Iowa Welcome Center provides tourism information and assistance to travelers. The Iowa Products Store offers food, beverage, clothing, crafts, and a wide variety of souvenirs. Stretch your legs on the 1-mile trail and learn about the Loess Hills. Manager: Harrison County Conservation Size: 18 acres Trails: 1 mile GPS: 41.58357, -95.84747 Camping: No Amenities: Restrooms, tourism information, gift shop, shelter Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: No Other activities: Picnicking  Harrison County Historical Village Welcome Center (source: Harrison County Conservation) Old Town Conservation Area Old Town Conservation Area (source: Lance Brisbois) The Old Town Conservation Area features a restored native prairie and bur oak savannah on 341 acres. A network of hiking trails of about 8 miles, scenic vistas, and abundant populations of deer and turkey provide a variety of public recreation opportunities. It is also an excellent location for bird watching for migrant species such as dickcissels and warblers. The Old Town Conservation Area is located about 3 miles southeast of Missouri Valley off Lima Trail and Mesa Place, where there are trailheads. The Lima Trail trailhead provides access to Foster's Pass (1.55 miles), Stagecoach Loop (2.24 miles), and Buffalo Run Loop (2.40 miles). The Mesa Place trailhead gives access to Blazing Star Trail Loop (1.25 miles), Bendy Oak Trail (0.98 miles), and Birddog Trail (1.01 miles). Either trailhead can be used to hike a loop incorporating all the aforementioned trails. Manager: Harrison County Conservation Size: 341 acres Trails: 8 miles GPS: 41.52028, -95.86715 (Lima Trail parking) GPS: 41.51747, -95.85988 (Mesa Place parking) Camping: No Amenities: Parking lots at 3370 Lima Trail and 2317 Mesa Place Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: Yes Other activities: Biking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing  Old Town Conservation Area (source: Harrison County Conservation) Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area Yellow warbler at Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area (source: Carter Oliver) Located in the Loess Hills, Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area has 155 acres of woodland and ridge top prairie habitat. There are no official trails at Sawmill Hollow, however, hiking is permitted throughout the wildlife area. Hunting for deer, turkey, pheasants, rabbits and squirrels is allowed, so if you hike during hunting season, remember to wear appropriately colored clothing. There is also a six acre lake for fishing, with bass, bluegill, and catfish (electric motor only). Overnight camping is not allowed at the Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area. It is an excellent location for bird watching. It is also part of the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR. Located 7 miles north of Missouri Valley off Loess Hills Trail (L20). Access to Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area is on a Level B dirt road. text source: Harrison County Conservation Manager: Harrison County Conservation Size: 155 acres Trails: No official trails but hiking is allowed throughout GPS: 41.64762, -95.90927 Camping: Not permitted Amenities: Parking lot and boat ramp Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: Yes (hunters are reminded it is illegal to discharge a firearm within 200 yards of an occupied building or feedlot-watch for signs) Other activities: Canoeing and kayaking, fishing, ice fishing, birdwatching  Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area (source: Harrison County Conservation) Schaben Park Red-bellied woodpecker at Schaben Park (source: Carter Oliver) Nestled in the hills, Schaben Park is a quiet park that features a campground with electricity and water hydrants, a shower house with restrooms (open April 1st through October 31st-weather dependent), a tent only camping area, picnic shelter, playground, a six-acre fishing lake for electric motors only, boat ramp, fishing jetty and pier, and dump station. A tornado shelter is located at the west end of the campground; sirens will sound in the event of severe weather. There are 2 miles of hiking trails with Smart Trail interpretive signs using QR (quick response) codes allow users to learn about the Loess Hills and Iowa's natural resources. With both native prairie and woodland habitat, public hunting is allowed on most of the area for pheasant, quail, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and deer. Hunters are reminded it is illegal to discharge a firearm within 200 yards of an occupied building or feedlot-watch for signs. Schaben Park is also an excellent location for bird watching, especially migrating warblers. The park gate is closed to vehicles from January 31st to April 1st (walk in only). text source: Harrison County Conservation Manager: Harrison County Conservation Size: 220 acres Trails: 2 miles GPS: 41.80351, -95.67020 Camping: Yes Amenities: Trash dumpster, restrooms, water hydrants, picnic shelter Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: Yes Other activities: Biking, canoeing & kayaking, fishing, picnicking, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing  Schaben Park (source: Harrison County Conservation) Willow Lake Recreation Area Willow Lake Recreation Area (source: Golden Hills RC&D) Willow Lake Recreation Area is the headquarters for Harrison County Conservation Board with administrative offices and a maintenance shop located on the hill above the park. It has 220 acres for multiple outdoor recreation opportunities. There is a 27-acre fishing lake with boat ramp access, fishing jetties, handicap fishing pier, swimming beach, playground and playscape, picnic shelters, campground with electricity and water as well as shower houses with restrooms (open April 1st through October 31st, weather dependent). Campsites are for both RV or tent with maximum 1 RV and 1 tent or 2 tents. There is no dump station, however, one is located at the city park in the towns of Woodbine and Pisgah. Firewood can be purchased from either the camp host or at the office. There are also six rental cabins available-click on the facilities link on the left for more information or to make a reservation. There are 6 miles of hiking trails with Smart Trail interpretive signs using QR (quick response) codes allow users to learn about the Loess Hills and Iowa's natural resources. The Nature Encounter Center has natural history displays and live animals like turtles and snakes. With both prairie and woodland habitat, public hunting is allowed on a portion of the area for pheasant, quail, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and deer. The Willow Lake Recreation Area is also an excellent location for bird watching, especially migrating songbirds and waterfowl. Willow Lake offers 6 miles of hiking trails through prairie and woodlands. Smart Trail interpretive signs using QR (quick response) codes allow users to learn about the Loess Hills and Iowa's natural resources. text source: Harrison County Conservation Manager: Harrison County Conservation Size: 220 acres Trails: 6 miles GPS: 41.77540, -95.78524 (north trailhead) GPS: 41.76955, -95.78735 (south trailhead) Camping: Yes, RV and tent Amenities: Restrooms, swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic shelters, playground, nature center Dogs: Yes, on leash Hunting: Yes, a large portion of Willow Lake Recreation Area is open to hunting  Willow Lake Recreation Area (source: Harrison County Conservation) Hiking the Byways is a regular series by Golden Hills RC&D that features publicly accessible lands open to hiking on the three scenic byways in western Iowa that Golden Hills RC&D coordinates: Glacial Trail Scenic Byway, Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, and Western Skies Scenic Byway. Each Friday a blog post covers hiking areas in one county on one of the aforementioned byways. For questions about hiking on the byways, contact Seth Brooks (seth.brooks@goldenhillsrcd.org).
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