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The Western Skies Scenic Byway, dedicated in 1998, is among the first state-designated scenic byways in Iowa. Western Skies offers travelers several easy opportunities to venture off the beaten path. The Byway is 142 miles long, traveling through Harrison, Shelby, Audubon and Guthrie Counties, including 14 rural towns. It is easily accessible to travelers from both Interstates 80 and 29.
The byway allows visitors to explore and take in a scenic journey along Iowa’s landscapes of rolling hills, working farmsteads, and tranquil small town life
1. Go local at Woodbine Applefest
From pies to pastries to slushies to caramel, the last Saturday of every September is the Woodbine Applefest, dedicated to a festival of everything APPLE!
2. Celebrate Danish heritage at Tivoli Fest
Tivoli Fest is a Danish-American celebration held every year on Memorial Day weekend in the Danish Village of Elk Horn, Iowa.
Events include:
3. Walk amongst wildflowers at remnant prairies
Dinesen Prairie in Shelby County consists of 20 acres of native prairie that has never been turned by a plow. There are 114 types of plants here, and springtime brings forbs like prairie phlos and indigo bush. Summertime flowers include Canada anemone and leadplant, and fall brings blooms like asters and blazing star. Typical grasses found here are porcupine grass and prairie horsetail. Habituating the prairie are birds including bobolink and meadowlark, as well as many small mammals like the white-tailed jackrabbit and the meadow vole. The preserve was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1977 by Derald Dinesen, whose gravestone is on top of a hill in the preserve, from which a view of the prairie is seen.
Greenwood Cemetery Prairie sits next to one of the older cemeteries (1860s) in Guthrie County. Bundt Prairie is a rare gem located where a 1-room country school originally sat. A variety of native prairie grasses and forbs inhabit both sites. Bring your identification book and your camera to capture the beauty of this remarkable ecosystem. While you hike the area, keep in mind that what you see of the prairie plants is typically only 1/3 of the plant's height. Some plants have root systems that stretch over 15 feet into the ground. Friendly reminder: Please don't pick any wildflowers and be respectful of cemetery rules. Sheeder Prairie State Preserve is a 25-acre tallgrass prairie. It is located five miles west of Guthrie Center in Guthrie County. The property was purchased in 1961 by the Iowa Conservation Commission from Oscar and Clara Sheeder, the son and daughter-in-law of the original homesteader. It was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968. This preserve lies within the Southern Iowa Drift Plain, a landform region of gently rolling terrain. Over 200 plant species are found in this preserve, including thirty grasses. 4. Snap a selfie with Albert the Bull
Albert, the "World's Largest Bull," is a Hereford bull nine times larger than life with a 15-foot span between his horns. It took 65 gallons of paint to cover Albert with the red and white colors of the Hereford breed. The steelwork for his frame was created from abandoned Iowa windmills.
Albert is celebrating his 60th birthday in 2024! Visit Audubon County this summer to snap a selfie with the birthday boy! 5. Hike at Whiterock Conservancy
Whiterock Conservancy is a 5,500 acre, nonprofit land trust dedicated to providing educational and recreational opportunities for the public, improving and protecting the land through conservation, and demonstrating sustainable farming methods.
Explore over 40+ miles of hiking, running, mountain biking, and equestrian; set up camp in the RV or tent camping areas; or enjoy the comforts of home in one of several vacation rentals. Hikers, runners, and walkers are welcome on any of Whiterock's trails. There is no use fee, but a suggested donation of $5 can be made at any trailhead. 6. Ride the T-Bone Trail
The T-Bone Recreation Trail runs from the city of Audubon into Cass County. It is named for the T-Bone event that originated in the 1950s in Audubon when the farmers all loaded up their cattle on to a train and rode with them to market in Chicago. The trail totals 21 miles; 16 of these miles are located in Audubon County. The trail begins in Audubon and goes south through Hamlin, Exira, Brayton, and into Cass County. Eventually, the trail will go into Atlantic, Iowa. The trail is hard surface making it great for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading. Most of the trail is asphalt with a few miles in the middle made out of concrete.
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