New Loess Hills Hiking Guide Highlights 20 Places to Explore Western Iowa

OAKLAND, Iowa — Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development (Golden Hills RC&D) has released a new Loess Hills Hiking Guide highlighting 20 places to hike and explore throughout western Iowa’s Loess Hills.

Created to help residents and visitors discover the region on foot, the guide features hiking opportunities across the northern, central, and southern Loess Hills. From well-known parks and nature centers to lesser-known public lands, the guide provides ideas for experiencing the landscapes, scenery, and natural resources that make the Loess Hills unique.

Each of the 20 featured locations includes information to help visitors plan their trip and explore the site. The guide also recommends additional places to visit in each of the three Loess Hills regions, encouraging hikers to discover even more of the landscape while traveling through western Iowa. At select locations, readers can also use Google Street View to explore trails and natural areas through 360-degree imagery before or after their visit.

“The Loess Hills offer an incredible variety of places to hike, but it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start,” said Seth Brooks with Golden Hills RC&D. “We created this guide to make exploring the Loess Hills easier and to introduce people to places they may not have visited before in this globally unique landform.”

The Loess Hills Hiking Guide was made possible thanks to support from the Gilchrist Foundation. To learn more about this philanthropic organization, visit thegilchristfoundation.org.
 
How to Get a Loess Hills Hiking Guide

Copies of the Loess Hills Hiking Guide are available in two ways. Individuals who make a donation of $25 or more to Golden Hills RC&D can receive a copy of the guide. Donations support Golden Hills’ work to conserve and protect western Iowa’s natural resources while creating opportunities for people to experience and enjoy the region.
 
Free copies are also available at seven locations throughout the Loess Hills. Visitors can request a guide in person at these locations after signing up for Golden Hills RC&D’s email newsletter at the following locations (limit one per person while supplies last):
 

• Hillview Recreation Area
• Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
• Brent S. Olson Memorial Visitor Center
• Willow Lake Nature Center
• Hitchcock Nature Center
• Pony Creek Nature Center
• Southern Loess Hills Welcome Center

 
To learn more about the Loess Hills Hiking Guide, find information about receiving a copy, or support Golden Hills RC&D, visit goldenhillsrcd.org/hiking.
 
About Golden Hills RC&D
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Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development is a nonprofit organization serving western Iowa. Golden Hills works collaboratively with communities and partners to conserve natural resources, support sustainable communities, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism throughout the region.

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