Nearly 1,500 acres of prairie, savanna and woodland in the Loess Hills give Pottawattamie a distinctive natural character. At Hitchcock Nature Center, expansive landscapes meet a wide range of activities: enjoy nature-based recreation and camping, and explore the area on a 14-mile network of unpaved trails.

Loess Hills: Trails and Winter Experiences

On the trails at Hitchcock, you can hike, go trail running and watch birds; in winter, snowshoeing and backcountry camping are also available. Loess Hills Lodge features an observation deck, an observation tower, a gallery, a gift shop, restrooms and picnic facilities. Gallery hours vary by season. The area combines scenic outdoor experiences with practical places to visit, while offering a variety of ways to explore: take a walk, watch birds or enjoy the view from above.

Crescent Hill at Hitchcock is a 106-acre property in the Loess Hills and part of the 1,500-acre Hitchcock Nature Center preserve. In winter, it offers skiing and snowboarding on eleven runs, ranging from easy to challenging. Operating dates depend on the weather, so check the latest information before making plans. The contrast with the trail network is clear: here, your choice depends on the sport and difficulty of the run; on the trails, you can choose between hiking, birdwatching and other activities.

Long-Distance Trails, River and Lake

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail offers a different kind of route: this 63-mile trail follows a former railroad line and includes more than 70 bridges. It can be traveled its entire length on foot, by bicycle, in a wheelchair, on skis or on snowshoes; motorized vehicles are not allowed. Compared with the unpaved trail network at Hitchcock, the Wabash Trace is the longer-distance option, while Hitchcock’s trails are concentrated in a single natural area.

There are also several ways to enjoy the water. The West Nishnabotna River Water Trail runs between Avoca and Macedonia and is open to canoeing, kayaking, tubing and tanking. Each community along the route has an access point. It is also the only state-designated water trail in southwest Iowa, giving it a distinct regional designation. Access conditions may change, so it’s worth checking the latest information before setting out.

At Lake Manawa State Park, you can go boating on the lake and rent paddleboards, canoes and kayaks for trips toward the Missouri River. The two water experiences are quite different: the West Nishnabotna Water Trail is a route between two towns, with access points along the way; Lake Manawa combines boating on the lake with rentals for trips toward the Missouri River.

If you’d rather explore on foot, Wilson Island State Recreation Area has nearly five miles of trails across 544 acres. Some run alongside a channel of the Missouri River. This shorter designated trail network, set beside a river channel, offers a different setting from the 63-mile Wabash Trace—two different scales for outdoor activity.

Railroads, Trails and Building History

In Council Bluffs, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum brings together two periods in time: it is housed in a Beaux-Arts building that once served as the Carnegie Free Public Library. The current exhibition uses immersive design and modern technology to explore the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, frontier life and the communities that developed along its route. Exhibition content may change, so check the latest information before visiting.

The Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs interprets the Lewis and Clark, California, Oregon and Mormon Pioneer trails. It is also one of the museums and visitor centers along the California Trail. The site includes 480 acres of river bottomland right beside the Missouri River. Here, history comes to life through both the routes and the riverside landscape.

Two very different historic homes offer further insight into architectural and cultural history. Historic Squirrel Cage Jail is now a museum preserving its history and architecture; it is considered the only surviving three-story rotary jail and one of just three surviving rotary jails in the United States. Historic General Dodge House, built in 1869 by General Grenville M. Dodge, is a three-story, 14-room home. Together, these sites show the many ways history can be explored—from an unusual jail and a private home to major railroad and pioneer trails.

Discover more destinations: Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Walnut, Underwood, Louisa County, Lee County, Plymouth County, Fayette County.

For the overview of the region: Iowa.