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News

Hiking the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway: Harrison County

4/5/2023

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Brent's Trail near Murray Hill Scenic Overlook (© 2016 Kenneth West)
Harrison County is perhaps the jewel in the hiking crown on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. The Loess Hills are perhaps the most rugged in Harrison County, and the miles of trails allow hikers to experience wilderness that is so rare in Iowa, the most altered state in the country. Brent's Trail, named the best hike in Iowa by Backpacker magazine in 2022 and the hardest trail in Iowa by Curated in 2023, is a difficult 13-mile hike that defies all stereotypes of the Hawkeye State. The trio of communities of Little Sioux, Pisgah, and Mondamin form a triangle within which is the best hiking on the byway. Continue reading below and start planning your next weekend hike!
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Perhaps the best hiking on the byway is near Little Sioux, Pisgah, and Mondamin

Brent's Trail

​​Manager: Harrison CCB and Iowa DNR
Trailhead: Murray Hill Scenic Overlook
​Trailhead: Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area
Distance: 13 miles one-way
Camping: Yes (dispersed)
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

Brent's Trail is an 13-mile linear hiking trail connecting Harrison County Conservation’s Murray Hill Scenic Overlook and Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area via the Loess Hills State Forest. The trail is the start of a proposed trail that will eventually connect the northern and southern ends of the State Forest. 
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Click to download the PDF map
The trail is named after longtime state forester Brent Olson. It's a partnership between Harrison County Conservation Board and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Other partners and supporters include Friends of the Loess Hills State Forest and Preparation Canyon State Park, Loess Hills Missouri River Region, Golden Hills RC&D, and Loess Hills Alliance.

Murray Hill Scenic Overlook and Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area are on the Fountainbleu byway loop. There are services in Pisgah.


Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area

​​​Manager: Harrison CCB
Location: 41.791844, -96.012606 
Acres: 165
Trails: 3-mile trail network
Camping: No
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes


Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area is located in the Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest. This area has 165 acres that is predominately woodland, along with ridge top native prairie stands and a network of trails of almost 3 miles. It is also a trail head for Brent's Trail to the Murray Hill Scenic Overlook, totaling almost 13 miles
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Click to download the PDF map
Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area is an excellent bird watching location for migrating woodland species. It is part of the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR.

The wildlife area is located on the Fountainbleu byway loop one mile southeast of Little Sioux on Larpenteur Memorial Road.
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Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area (photo by Lance Brisbois)

Loess Hills State Forest
Little Sioux Unit


​​​Manager: Iowa DNR
Location: Multiple parking areas
Acres: 3,752
Trails: Over 10 miles
Camping: Yes (dispersed)
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

The Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest 
lies between the towns of Little Sioux and Pisgah. The forest unit is a thin band of rugged hills and valleys, bordered to the west by the Missouri River Valley and the Soldier River Valley to the east.
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Click to download the PDF map
Brent's Trail traverses the length of the unit, while there are several miles of additional trails that can be accessed via different parking areas and trailheads. There are no restrooms or reliable sources of water in the Little Sioux unit. There are services in Pisgah. The unit is bordered by the Fountainbleu byway loop.

Loess Hills State Forest
​Pisgah Unit


​​​Manager: Iowa DNR
Location: Multiple parking areas
Acres: 2,567
Trails: About 7 miles
Camping: Yes (dispersed)
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

The Pisgah Unit, 2,567 acres, is east of the town of Pisgah. This unit is also the site of the forest headquarters near downtown Pisgah, two blocks west of State Highway 183. The main byway route and the Orchard Ridge loop pass through the unit.
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Click to download the PDF map
There are several parking areas to provide access to the various parcels that make up the Pisgah Unit. Some recommended trailheads include the following (refer to the map): 118th Ln; Easton Trl west of 110th St; and the three farthest east on 145th St.
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LHSF Pisgah Unit (photo by Paul Dietsch on All Trails)

Loess Hills State Forest
​Mondamin Unit


​​Manager: Iowa DNR
North Trailhead: 
41.744087, -95.973882
South Trailhead: 41.711334, -95.959977
Acres: 1,097
Trails: More than 10 miles
Camping: Yes (dispersed)
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

The Mondamin Unit is 3 miles east of the town of Mondamin on Highway 127. This unit is a quiet destination for hikers and hunters. The north trailhead is on Highway 183, while the south trailheaad is just west of  IA-183 on IA-127.
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Click to download the PDF map
The south trailhead leads to a trail that climbs the dramatic razor ridge that rises above the intersection of IA-183 and IA-127. Hiking the southern loop totals approximately 4.5 miles. The north trailhead also climbs steeply up to the ridge that runs parallel with IA-183. You can make a 3.5-mile loop back to the north trailhead. If you hike both the north and south loops, the total mileage will be around 10 miles.

Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area

​​Manager: Harrison CCB
Location: 
41.643476, -95.914196
Acres: 155
Trails: No official trails but hiking is allowed
Camping: No
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area has 155 acres of woodland and ridge top prairie habitat. It is an excellent location for bird watching and, as it is part of the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR. There are no trails but hiking off-trail is allowed throughout the wildlife area.
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Click to download the PDF map
Located seven miles north of Missouri Valley off Loess Hills Trail (L20), ​the wildlife area is not directly on the byway but is a short drive from the main route. Access to Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area is on a Level B dirt road.
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Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area (photo by Harrison CCB)

Old Town Conservation Area

​​​Manager: Harrison CCB
Trailhead: 3370 Lima Trail
Trailhead: 2317 Mesa Place​
Acres: 341
Trails: 8-mile trail network
Camping: No
Amenities: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

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 with scenic vistas provide a variety of public recreation opportunities. It is also an excellent location for bird watching for migrant species such as dickcissels and warblers.
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Click to download the PDF map
The Old Town Conservation Area is located off Lima Trail about 3 miles southeast of the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway and Missouri Valley. There are two parking areas that provide access to the trails.
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Old Town Conservation Area (photo by Lance Brisbois)

 ​Willow Lake Recreation Area​​​

Manager: Harrison CCB
Location: 2715 Easton Trail, Woodbine
Acres: 220
Trails: 6-mile trail network
Camping: Yes (RV and tent)
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic shelters
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

Willow Lake Recreation Area is the headquarters for Harrison CCB with administrative offices located on the hill above the park. It has 220 acres for multiple outdoor recreation opportunities. The Nature Encounter Center has natural history displays and live animals like turtles and snakes. 
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Click to download the PDF map
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 Willow Lake Recreation Area is also an excellent location for bird watching, especially migrating songbirds and waterfowl.

Willow Lake Recreation Area is not located on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway but is a short drive from the main route near Logan or the Orchard Ridge loop from Pisgah. It is located 6 miles northwest of Woodbine on F20L (Easton Trail).
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Willow Lake Recreation Area (photo by Harrison CCB)

Schaben Park

Manager: Harrison CCB
Location: 
3345 141st Ln, Dunlap
Trails: 6-mile trail network
Camping: Yes
Amenities: Restrooms, water pumps
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes

Nestled in the hills, Schaben Park is a quiet park that features 2 miles of hiking trails with Smart Trail interpretive signs using QR (quick response) codes to allow users to learn about the Loess Hills and Iowa's natural resources.​ Schaben Park is also an excellent location for bird watching, especially migrating warblers.
Picture
Click to download the PDF map
Schaben Park is not located on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway but is a short drive from the main route or the Orchard Ridge loop. It is located 2 miles off Highway 30, between Woodbine and Dunlap on 141st Lane (gravel road).
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Schaben Park (photo by Amy Cramer on All Trails)

Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center

​Manager: Harrison CCB
Location: 
2931 Monroe Ave, Missouri Valley
Trails: 1-mile trail (concrete & limestone)
Camping: No
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic shelters
Dog-friendly: Yes, on leash
Hunting: Yes


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. 
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Click to download the PDF map
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. The 0.41-mile Concrete Trail is accessible to wheelchairs. There are many stairs along the 0.34-mile Limestone Trail 

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 blog post covers hiking areas in one county on one of the aforementioned byways. For questions about hiking on the byways, contact Seth Brooks ([email protected]).
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