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News

Hiking the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway: Pottawattamie County

3/10/2023

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​This week's installment in our Hiking the Byways series takes us to Pottawattamie County on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. 

Hitchcock Nature Center is one of the top outdoor recreation attractions on the entire byway, however, there are several hidden gems in Pottawattamie, including Vincent Bluff State Preserve, one of the only urban prairie preserves in the state of Iowa. Hiking options range from the steep ridges of Hitchcock to the forested urban parks in Council Bluffs to the popular cycling path Wabash Trace Nature Trail, which is lovely in autumn when the fall colors are at their peak. Keep reading and start making plans for your next hike in Pottawattamie County.
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Hitchcock Nature Center

Manager: Pottawattamie Conservation
GPS: 41.41337, -95.85760
Acres: 1,500
Trails: 10-mile trail system
Camping: 10 backcountry hike-in sites that can be reserved online
Amenities: Restrooms in the lodge available from 6am to 10pm
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Strictly managed deer hunt in early winter; check the website for dates.

​
Hitchcock Nature Center has a 10-mile trail system that provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for hiking, trail running, birdwatching, snowshoeing, and backcountry camping. ​
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Click to download as a PDF
Trails network together so visitors can be creative to enjoy any length of hike they desire. Due to the rugged terrain of the Loess Hills, the trails vary from easy ridgeline walks to difficult climbs. Trail maps can be found at Fox Run Ridge, Badger Ridge, and Hohneke trailheads, or at the Loess Hills Lodge during gallery hours.

It's difficult to create an easy loop at Hitchcock because at some point you will have to descend steeply into a valley or climb steeply onto a ridge. If you're looking for an easy family-friendly hike, do an out-and-back hike starting from the Badger Ridge or Fox Run Ridge trailheads in the parking lot below the Loess Hills Lodge. Another option is the ADA-accessible boardwalk that ends at Hawk Ridge.

​Vincent Bluff State Preserve

Manager: Loess Hills Preservation Society
GPS: 41.24022, -95.83478
Acres: n/a
Trails: 1 mile
Camping: No
Amenities: Shelter at the parking lot
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Hunting: No
Picture
Click to download as a PDF
Vincent Bluff State Preserve is a cooperative venture between the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and the Loess Hills Preservation Society to preserve a unique urban prairie in the Loess Hills. The preserve is located in the heart of Council Bluffs. Today, Vincent Bluff Prairie Preserve stands as the only truly urban prairie preserve in the state of Iowa, and likewise, is a great example of Loess Hills prairie, oak savanna, and eastern deciduous forest ecosystems.

A footpath begins at the shelter near the parking lot and climbs steeply to the top of the prairie ridge. The climb is short but strenuous. You can follow the GPX track below to hike a loop, or just wander along the ridge enjoying the views and native flora.

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Vincent Bluff State Preserve (photo by Lance Brisbois)

Lewis & Clark Monument Park

​Manager: City of Council Bluffs
GPS: 41.30345, -95.85849
Trails: 
5 miles of trails
Camping: No
Amenities: Restrooms
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Hunting: No
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Click for a larger version
Dedicated in 1936 to honor the Corps of Discovery, Lewis & Clark Monument Park has a small observation deck and two large commemorative stone markers, quarried from the Folsom Quarry in Vermont and created by sculptor Harry E. Stinson and architect George L. Horner.  The images and text on the markers explain Lewis and Clark’s meeting with local Oto and Missouri Indians.  (The actual site of the meeting took place on the west side of the Missouri about 10 miles north of Omaha near today’s Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.)

The monument stands atop a ridge of the Loess Hills, which run along much of the western edge of Iowa.  For this reason, mountain bikers enjoy the challenging route through the heavy woods of the park, hikers appreciate the nearby trails, and aerial enthusiasts love the panoramic view of planes landing at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield just across the Missouri.

Trails Have Our Respect (THOR) maintains the mountain bike trails.
​​
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Lewis and Clark Monument Park


​​Fairmount Park

Manager: City of Council Bluffs
GPS: 41.25397, -95.84459
Trails: 5 miles of trails
Camping: No
Amenities: Restrooms, shelters, water
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Hunting: ​​No
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Fairmount Park
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Fairmount Park (photo: Council Bluffs Fairmount Park Neighborhood Association)
​Fairmount Park (East Graham Ave and Park Entrance) hiking trails wind through the hills. At Fairmount Park, you'll also find a scenic overlook, a playground, a splash pad, a firepit, picnic shelters, and ample parking.
​
Gibraltar Trailhead (9th Ave and High St) has picnic tables and direct access to the Fairmount Park hiking trails making it a great place to meet up with friends.


​Lake Manawa State Park​

​
Manager: Iowa DNR

GPS: 41.19818, -95.84471
Trails: 3 miles of paved trails
Camping: Yes
Amenities: Restrooms, shelters, water
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Hunting: ​​No​

Lake Manawa State Park is known for boating and fishing, however, the park also provides ample opportunity for a hike, leisurely walk, or bike ride on a total of seven miles of paved trails.
Picture
Click to download the PDF version
These trails connect to the trail system that runs throughout Council Bluffs including the Wabash Trace Trail and the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge. There are also eight miles of unpaved trails perfectly suited for mountain biking located on either side of the Missouri River access on the south side of the park.
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Lake Manawa State Park (photo by Chris Lind, Instagram @boipinoy)
The mountain bike trails along the Missouri River just south of Lake Manawa are also hiker-friendly. The area is right along the river, so whenever there is a flood the trails will likely be impassable and damaged. The trails are maintained by the THOR group.
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Lake Manawa MTB trails
​GPX: Lake Manawa MTB Trail
Trailhead: 41.18929, -95.86356
​Distance: 6.60 miles
Elevation gain: 49 feet
Trail surface: Dirt and grass
Difficulty: Easy 7 according to 
​
NW Hiker's Hike Difficulty Calculator

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

While it's mostly known as a bike trail, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail is another opportunity for hikers to explore Pottawattamie County. The northern terminus of the trail is located in Pottawattamie County on the very southern boundary of Council Bluffs. The level grade makes it a nice option for a leisurely out-and-back hike from the Iowa West Foundation Trailhead, especially in fall when the leaves are turning colors.
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PictureTrailheads near Council Bluffs
​GPX : Wabash Trace Nature Trail
Start: Iowa West Foundation Trailhead
Distance: 62.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1.496 feet
Trail surface: Crushed rock

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Arrowhead Park and Botna Bend Park


​Pottawattamie Conservation also manages Arrowhead Park and Botna Bend Park. While both parks are not on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, there are within reasonable driving distance; Arrowhead, near Neola, is 16 miles from the byway, while Botna Bend is 30 miles away in Hancock. Both have trails, among other amenities, and Botna even has a small herd of bison.
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Arrowhead Park
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Botna Bend Park

​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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