Ames High Prairie State Preserve: WWW - Iowadnr.gov
Ames High Prairie State Preserve: WWW - Iowadnr.gov
Ames High Prairie State Preserve: WWW - Iowadnr.gov
www.iowadnr.gov
Anderson Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov
Behrens Ponds and Woodland State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov
Berry Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov
Bird Hill State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov
Bixby State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 11
Bluffton Fir Stand State Preserve
area manager
Iowa Department of
Natural Resources
Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit
2296 Oil Well Road
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-4895
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 13
Brush Creek Canyon State Preserve
Brushy Creek State Preserve is located in Brushy Creek Recreation Area, a directions
6,500-acre public area in Webster County located twenty miles southeast From the intersection of
of Fort Dodge. During environmental studies conducted as part of a Highway 20 and Highway
controversial proposal to construct a 1,000-acre recreational lake, a portion 169 southwest of Fort Dodge,
of the area was discovered to contain significant geological exposures, take Highway 20 east 9 miles
archaeological sites, and habitat for the woodland vole, a state-threatened to County Road P73 (Union
species. In 1988, a 260-acre portion of the recreation area was dedicated as a Avenue) (watch for sign to
geological, archaeological, and biological state preserve. A 700-acre lake was Brushy Creek Recreation Area
later completed upstream from the preserve. on Highway 20). Turn south
Geologically, the scenic Brushy Creek valley, located within the Des (right) on P70 and go 3.5 miles
Moines Lobe landform region, contains a remarkable record of 11,000 years to 270th Street. Turn east (left)
of history in its alluvial terraces, benches, and apronlike fan deposits. These onto 270th Street and drive 0.5
features display the effects of glacial melting from the Des Moines Lobe mile to the official entrance of
as well as the rapid deepening of the nearby Des Moines River valley. In Brushy Creek Recreation Area.
addition, erosion by Brushy Creek has revealed stratigraphic deposits of a Continue on this curving park
pre–Des Moines Lobe landscape. This geologic record, seen nowhere else in road nearly 2.5 miles (past the
northern Iowa, provides important insights into the evolution of the Iowan turnoffs for the campground
Erosion Surface. Fossil wood and plant materials found here are dated and picnic area and across the
at 37,000 years and indicate the presence of a spruce forest similar to the dam forming Brushy Creek
Canadian boreal forest of today. Lake) to the intersection of
Natural vegetation found in the preserve includes forest and prairie Brushy Creek Road and 280th
communities. An old field once used to grow crops is also found here. A Street, which is by the park
small, deep, forested ravine is home to the rare woodland vole. Most of the office. Turn west (right) into
forested areas on steep slopes are dominated by red oak and basswood, the parking lot for the lake
joined by black maple in the deep moist ravines. Bur oak and shagbark overlook. From the parking lot,
hickory dominate the flat uplands. Woodland sedge is common in the walk downhill to the west and
understory. The Brushy Creek floodplain is mainly cottonwood, American south for 0.1 mile to the Sedge
elm, and black walnut. Former crop fields in the eastern portion of the Meadow Mitigation Area, then
preserve have been planted with prairie grasses. follow the horse trail along the
Pasqueflower is the first to appear in the small prairie opening in April, forest edge for an additional 0.5
with snow trillium, hepatica, bloodroot, and hairy blue violet in the mile to the preserve boundary
woodlands. By May and June, wild rose, yellow flax, and wild leek are (sign: Brushy Creek State
blooming. The fall wildflowers begin in July with several goldenrod species Preserve). This trail continues
and are followed by round-headed bush clover and Short’s blue aster in through the preserve.
August. The rich woodland flowers are mixed with several fern species,
while the open woodlands are mixed with grasses. area manager
Twenty-five mammal species are found within the Brushy Creek Iowa Department of
Recreation Area, including bats, squirrels, mice, vole and shrew species, Natural Resources
cottontail rabbit, weasel, badger, skunk, and white-tailed deer. At least 100 Brushy Creek Recreation Area
species of birds have been recorded from the recreation area, including Route 1, Box 150
many neotropical migrants: yellow-billed cuckoo, Tennessee warbler, black- Lehigh, IA 50557
throated green warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, Lincoln’s sparrow, northern (515) 543-8298
rough-winged swallow, Swainson’s thrush, and grasshopper sparrow. Brushy_Creek@dnr.iowa.gov
Several neotropical migrant species that need large tracts of unbroken forest www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
for breeding may be found here including American redstart, Louisiana State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
waterthrush, ovenbird, and yellow-throated vireo.
A trail open for equestrian use runs through the preserve. Hunting is
permitted.
Other natural areas in the vicinity include Dolliver State Park and www.iowadnr.gov 17
Woodman Hollow State Preserve.
Cameron Woods State Preserve
area manager
Scott County Conservation
Board
Wapsi River Environmental
Education Center
31555 52nd Avenue
Dixon, IA 52748
(563) 843-2855
www.scottcountyiowa.com
conservation@scottcountyiowa
.com
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 19
Casey’s Paha State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 21
Catfish Creek State Preserve
Catfish Creek Preserve is located in the north half of the 1,300-acre Mines of
Spain Recreation Area, on the south side of the city of Dubuque, in Dubuque
County. The preserve contains unique historic sites related to the first European
settlement of Iowa and geological landforms illustrating stream piracy. The directions
Mines of Spain Recreation Area was purchased by the Iowa Natural Heritage From the intersection of High-
Foundation and later transferred to the Iowa Conservation Commission in 1980. way 151/61 and Highway 52 on
In 1991, approximately 600 acres in the northern half of the recreation area were the southern edge of Dubuque,
dedicated as a geological, archaeological, and historical state preserve. take Highway 52 south to Olde
Geologically, the preserve lies within the southern portion of the Paleozoic Massey Road (watch for Mines
Plateau landform region. Many characteristics of the Paleozoic Plateau can be of Spain Recreation Area signs).
found here, including scenic rock outcrops of Ordovician (450 million years Turn east (left) and follow road
old) Galena dolomite, high bluffs, narrow ridges, deeply dissected streams and to Mines of Spain Road, which
ravines, seeps, caves, and vertical crevices. The Mississippi River floodplain is the entrance to the recreation
borders the entire eastern boundary with its entrenched 200-foot bluffs. Catfish area. Turn north (left) and fol-
Creek (after which the preserve is named) and Granger Creek flow through low the road into the preserve,
narrow valleys in the northern section of the preserve. The valleys were altered which comprises the northern
or abandoned when the Mississippi River, fed by massive glacial meltwater half of the recreation area.
flows, further cut into the bedrock, leaving these good examples of “stream Parking is available by Horse-
piracy.” Two sections of abandoned valley associated with the former course of shoe Quarry, Catfish Creek, and
Catfish Creek are north of the present-day stream valleys and in the Horseshoe the Julien Dubuque Monument.
Bluff area.
Vertical bedrock outcrops and steep slopes dominate most of the preserve. area manager
Many sites within the preserve exhibit geological features, including the Iowa Department of
Julien Dubuque Monument, Horseshoe Bluff, the Horseshoe Bluff quarry, the Natural Resources
abandoned valley west of Horseshoe Bluff, Fessler Mine, the confluence of Mines of Spain Recreation Area
Catfish and Granger Creeks, and the bluffs along the Mississippi River. These 8999 Bellevue Heights
unusual examples of Quaternary landscape evolution are seen at only one other Dubuque, IA 52003
site in Iowa, in the Little Maquoketa Mounds State Preserve north of Dubuque. (563) 556-0620
Iowa’s portion of the prominent Silurian Escarpment can be observed from Mines_of_Spain@dnr.state.ia.us
the higher elevations within Mines of Spain as a steep wooded ridge along the www.state.ia.us/parks
southwestern horizon. State_Preserves@dnr.state.ia.us
Archaeologically, the preserve contains a nearly continuous record of
occupation by aboriginal peoples dating back to the Archaic period, about 8,000
years ago. The Woodland Indian culture (from approximately 2,500 years ago),
known for its pottery, cultivated plants, and burial mounds, used this area
extensively. The mounds are believed to have been used primarily for religious,
ceremonial, and burial purposes. By a.d. 1200, these hunters and gatherers (who
were Iowa’s original gardeners) had been replaced by groups based primarily
on agriculture.
Archaeological sites within the preserve related to these earliest occupations
include village and campsites at the mouths of Catfish and Granger Creeks,
conical and linear burial mound groups, cemeteries, open-air habitation areas,
and specialized activity areas such as hunting and plant food processing
locales. Artifacts that have been found include projectile points, end scrapers,
drill fragments, bifaces, and ceramics.
Historically, Catfish Creek became a fur-trading center for the Indian-French
culture beginning in the mid-1600s. In addition, the bedrock contained much www.iowadnr.gov 23
lead and zinc ore (known as Mississippi Valley Type deposits). Mines are
found throughout the preserve, including many pit mines. The shallow depths
of these ores in vertical crevice and cave systems have contributed to a long The question of ownership of the Mines of Spain was complicated by the fact
history of mining activity and geological investigations. that Julien Dubuque and Auguste Choteau had a signed document naming
Julien Dubuque was one of the first European settlers who came to the area Choteau as the grantee upon Dubuque’s death. French claimants, operating
to mine lead. The Meskwaki Indians had occupied this area since the mid- from St. Louis, demanded title to the lands. The U.S. government refused
1700s, and Dubuque located his lead-mining enterprise near their village in to acknowledge Choteau’s document, stating that the original grant merely
the Catfish Creek valley. His settlement included a sawmill, wharf, blacksmith pertained to Dubuque as an individual and that he did not have legal right
shop and forge, smelting furnace, and trading post. Dubuque’s petition to the to transfer title to the lands. The matter went to court, where the battle was
Spanish government, who controlled the region at the time, gave this area its fought for over forty years, up to the Supreme Court. In the end, in 1853, the
name–the “Mines of Spain.” Many lead mines operated in the area, and some government won.
wooded areas in the preserve were heavily cut over for timber and firewood for Biologically, the preserve is basically an oak forest, dominated by red and
steamboats. white oak. Bur oak groves are found on the highest hilltops and ridges, and a
Specific historical sites within the preserve include the Julien Dubuque few patches of paper birch and quaking aspen occur on some slopes that were
gravesite, the buried remains of the Meskwaki Indian village, a large logged in the past. The steepest slopes support maple-basswood forest, juniper
concentration of pit mines, and the Fessler mine. The Fessler mine was one of groves, and hill prairies. The sugar maple- and basswood-dominated forest is
the last to be mined, and was active until 1914. Archaeological evidence for restricted to the northeast-facing bluffs of the Mississippi River.
the lumbering and farming activities that replaced lead mining include stone In the spring, jack-in-the-pulpit, rattlesnake fern, spring beauty, hepatica, and
fences, a series of old roads, several historic foundations, and a small historic bloodroot can be found, with wild ginger and false Solomon’s seal also found
family cemetery. along the Mississippi River. By summer, a multitude of ferns can be seen among
Paul Garvin, in Iowa’s Minerals, provides a history of early mining in the the woody vegetation, including maidenhair fern, ebony spleenwort, lady fern,
area; information in the following six paragraphs is drawn from his account. silvery glade fern, fragile fern, crested wood fern, and spinulose wood fern,
American mining interests in the upper Mississippi Valley were slowed by along with the unusual Indian pipe. Walking fern, bulblet fern, and cliffbrake
the War of 1812, when the mines were controlled by the British and their Native fern can be found in the steeper areas.
American confederates. By 1822, however, American companies had begun Hill prairies occur as small scattered openings on the driest ridges and
mining operations on the east side of the Mississippi River. On the west side hillsides. Spring flowers in these areas include pasqueflower, plantain-leaved
of the river, the Meskwaki continued working Dubuque’s old claims. White pussytoes, hoary puccoon, violet wood sorrel, and alumroot, followed by
settlers were not permitted to work the mines until 1833, but the Meskwaki sold prairie coreopsis, pale-spiked lobelia, round-headed bush clover, and pale
lead and lead ash to American traders. purple coneflower in the summer. The fall flora has sky-blue aster and rough
By 1830 American mining companies were well established in Wisconsin blazing star, with sideoats grama, big and little bluestem, and Indian grass.
and Illinois but not in Iowa, since Iowa lands were still claimed by the Sac The juniper groves, dominated by eastern red cedar, are scattered on
and Meskwaki. That year, because of hostilities with the Sioux, the Meskwaki limestone outcrops, especially on south-facing slopes and ridges and along the
abandoned their mines and sought protection near Rock Island, Illinois. Once edges of the hill prairies. Forests in the narrow floodplains of Catfish Creek,
their absence was discovered, miners from Illinois and Wisconsin crossed the Granger Creek, and the Mississippi River are dominated by silver maple. Herbs
river. include sedge species, jewelweed, and horsetail. Almost 480 vascular plant
Competition for claims was so keen that the miners organized and drafted species are documented in the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, and it is
rules of governance. The federal government considered the miners trespassers likely that most of these species may be found within the preserve.
on what were still Native American lands, and it sent federal troops to drive The Julien Dubuque Monument, the landmark for the Mines of Spain
the miners out. A short time later, under the protection of U.S. army troops, the Recreation Area, is located in the northeast portion of the preserve. It offers
Meskwaki returned and took up mining again. grand views of the Mississippi River valley gorge and blufflands, the city of
Also in 1830, the United States proposed purchasing the Mines of Spain Dubuque, the Julien Dubuque bridge, and most of the Mines of Spain. Also
from the Meskwaki, but the asking price was too high. In 1831, the Meskwaki seen from the monument is Sinsinewa Mound, an isolated erosional remnant of
were again at war with the Sioux, and again they left the mines. Early in 1832, Silurian-age rocks (430 million years old) across the Mississippi River in Illinois.
George Davenport went to Washington, D.C., with a proposal from the Sac and A trail leads to Catfish Creek from the monument.
Meskwaki to sell the lead mines, but unfortunately the government acted too A spectacular view of the Julien Dubuque Monument with the city of
slowly. Eighteen thirty-two was the year of the infamous and tragic Black Hawk Dubuque in the background can be seen from Horseshoe Bluff Quarry. The
War. The treaty ending the fighting was signed on September‑21, 1832; it forced quarry is closed during late winter and early spring when falling rock is most
the Sac and Meskwaki to cede trans-Mississippian lands to the United States. probable.
These lands included Dubuque’s Mines of Spain. Rock climbing and rappelling are prohibited. The Fessler Mine is also closed
The treaty was not to take effect until June‑1, 1833, but white settlers and to public access. Hunting is permitted.
miners refused to wait for the Meskwaki to leave. In September‑1832, 150 Other natural areas in the vicinity include the Little Maquoketa River
miners and their families invaded, and again the government intervened. Mounds and Turkey River Mounds State Preserves and Swiss Valley Park.
The invaders, some sent by Auguste Choteau from St. Louis, were driven out The E. B. Lyons Nature Center, which serves as a headquarters for the Mines
24 25
several times during early 1833. On June‑1, white settlers and miners raced of Spain, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round;
across the Mississippi to stake their claims. They were still in violation of the weekends 12 to 4 p.m. from April‑15 to October‑15.
1807 law requiring that lands be surveyed before they were settled, but this law
was not enforced.
Cayler Prairie State Preserve
Cayler Prairie is a 160-acre native prairie on the western edge of the Des
Moines Lobe landform region. It is located three miles west of West Okoboji
Lake in Dickinson County. In 1944, botanist Ada Hayden visited the prairie,
which was then being used as a hayfield and pasture, and recommended directions
that it be preserved. In 1958, the Iowa Conservation Commission purchased From the intersection of High-
the property from the Cayler family, who had owned the tract since way 9 and Highway 86 on the
settlement of the region in the 1860s. Cayler Prairie was designated as a west side of the town of Spirit
National Natural Landmark in 1966 and was dedicated as a state preserve Lake, take Highway 9 west 3.5
in 1971. An additional 385 acres of former pasture and cropland to the north miles to 170th Avenue (sign:
and east were purchased by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Cayler Prairie State Preserve—2
1998. miles). Turn south (left) and
The preserve is located on the western limit of glacial advances that go 2.5 miles to the preserve.
pushed into north-central Iowa between 13,000 and 14,000 years ago. A parking area is available on
Accumulations of glacial debris left behind as the ice stagnated and slowly the east side of the road (sign:
melted formed the irregular assortment of knobs and basins seen across Cayler Prairie State Botanical
this preserve and its surroundings. These areas of hummocky terrain (low Monument).
irregular hills) are part of the Bemis and Altamont end moraines, which
mark the outermost lateral positions of the glacier. The moraines continue area manager
across the remainder of the Des Moines Lobe region of north-central Iowa, Iowa Department of
the portion of the state last touched by continental glaciation. Natural Resources
A total of 225 native plant species have been found in the prairie, Great Lakes Wildlife Unit
including 35 species of grass. The prairie is dominated by big bluestem, 2408 17th Street
Indian grass, little bluestem, muhly grass, and blue grama grass. Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Pasqueflower, golden alexanders, groundplum, and Lambert’s crazyweed (712) 336-3524
are very common in the spring. By summer, gray-headed coneflower, www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
Culver’s root, sawtooth sunflower, and prairie rose are prominent bloom State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
ers. Missouri goldenrod, New England aster, and dotted gayfeather are
abundant in the fall.
A total of seventy-two vertebrate species includes four amphibians, seven
reptiles, thirty-five birds, and twenty-six mammals. Northern chorus frogs,
the eastern tiger salamander, and prairie skink are some of the amphibians
and reptiles that might be observed. Common yellowthroat, bobolink,
northern harrier, upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, horned lark,
and short-billed marsh wren are some of the birds that can be found at
the preserve. Mammals found here include the white-tailed jackrabbit,
least weasel, and badger. Over twenty-five species of butterflies have been
reported from the preserve, including the Dakota skipper, Poweshiek
skipperling, Arogos skipper, Ottoe skipper, regal fritillary, and dusted
skipper.
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory students use the preserve every summer, and
much research has been done over the years. Hunting is permitted.
Other state preserves in the vicinity include Freda Haffner Kettlehole,
Silver Lake Fen, Anderson Prairie, and Cheever Lake.
www.iowadnr.gov 27
Cedar Bluffs State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 31
Cheever Lake State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 33
Clay Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 35
Claybanks Forest State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 37
Cold Water Spring State Preserve
area manager
Iowa Department of
Natural Resources
Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit
2296 Oil Well Road
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-4895
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 39
Crossman Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 41
Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 43
Dinesen Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 45
Doolittle Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 51
Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve
Five Ridge Prairie is a 790-acre preserve at the northern end of the Loess
Hills. Located south of Westfield in Plymouth County, it is one of the
largest tracts of land in the Iowa State Preserve System. The property was
purchased in 1981 by the Plymouth County Conservation Board with directions
assistance from The Nature Conservancy and the Iowa Department of From the intersection of I-29
Natural Resources. It was dedicated as a biological and geological state and Highway 12 (exit 151)
preserve in 1986. on the west edge of Sioux
The preserve straddles landscape of dramatic narrow ridges that City, drive 9 miles north on
are separated by deep, wooded valleys, and was named for five major Highway 12 through the town
northwest-to-southeast trending ridges that extend through the area. Loess of Riverside and past Stone
dominates this landscape. The loess originated in the nearby valleys of the State Park to the second turnoff
Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. Between 30,000 and 12,000 years ago, these for County Road K18. Turn
valleys carried large amounts of glacial meltwater and “rock flour” ground east (right) onto K18 and go
from glacial activity to the north. Strong winds scoured the silt from broad 3.5 miles northeast to 260th
expanses of exposed floodplain during the drier, low-flow winter seasons Avenue (watch for County
and carried the airborne silt eastward out of the valleys. The thickest Conservation sign). Turn west
deposits of loess lie just east of their alluvial sources. The loess is not as (left) and travel 1 mile to the
thick in this reach of the Loess Hills as it is farther south. Consequently, preserve entrance (sign: Five
Cretaceous-age bedrock deposits of marine origin, layers of limestone Ridge Prairie State Preserve).
and shale, can be seen in scattered outcrops throughout the area. These
sedimentary rocks are 80 million to 90 million years old. area manager
Prairie and woodland are the two dominant natural ecosystems today. Plymouth County
The prairies are found on all major ridges, dominating the sunny south and Conservation Board
west-facing slopes, and covering approximately 300 acres of the preserve. PO Box 1033
They are dominated by little bluestem and sideoats grama, and contain a Hinton, IA 50124
blend of plants characteristic of the eastern tallgrass prairie as well as of the (712) 947-4270
Great Plains mixed-grass prairies. Woodland dominated by bur oak cover conservation@
approximately 370 acres. A dense zone of dogwood and smooth sumac plymouthcountyparks.com
separates the forest from the prairie areas. www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
Approximately 300 plant species are known from the preserve. Twenty- State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
five species are more typically western plants on the eastern edge of
their range, such as yucca and cut-leaf iron plant. Starting in late March,
pasqueflower blooms on the hillsides. By May and June, the ridges are
dotted with blue-eyed grass, hoary puccoon, prairie moonwort, biscuitroot,
and Lambert’s crazyweed. The woodlands are also in bloom with spring
wildflowers such as bloodroot, bellwort, and Virginia waterleaf. The warm
days of summer see a changing display of prairie forbs grasses.
With both prairie and woodland habitats here, the diversity of birds is
great. At least eighty-nine species use the preserve, including grassland
birds such as dickcissel and vesper sparrow. In the woodland edges or
thickets, western kingbird, blue grosbeak, and northern bobwhite can be
found. However, the woodlands have the greatest diversity, with ovenbird,
yellow-billed cuckoo, indigo bunting, and scarlet tanager as well as
migrating warblers, alder flycatcher, and blue grosbeak.
A total of twenty mammals have been noted on the preserve, including
the Plains pocket mouse, northern grasshopper mouse, the white-footed
mouse, and western harvest mouse. The Plains spadefoot toad, Great Plains
toad, and the eastern hognose snake can be found here, as well as forty-nine
butterflies. www.iowadnr.gov 53
Hunting is permitted.
Other natural areas in the vicinity include Broken Kettle Grassland, Sioux
City Prairie, Stone State Park, and Mount Talbot State Preserve.
Fleming Woods State Preserve
area manager
Poweshiek County
Conservation Board
Box 666
Montezuma, IA 50171
(641) 623-3191
www.poweshiekcountyparks.
org
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 55
Fort Atkinson State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 65
Hardin City Woodland State Preserve
area manager
Hardin County
Conservation Board
15537 “S” Avenue
Ackley, IA 50601-7734
(641) 648-4361
www.
hardincountyconservation.com
hardinccb@
hardincountyconservation.com
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 67
Hartley Fort State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 69
Hayden Prairie State Preserve
Hayden Prairie is the largest prairie in Iowa outside of the Loess Hills.
This 240-acre preserve is located in northern Howard County, thirteen
miles northeast of Riceville and four miles west of Lime Springs. It was
investigated in 1945 by Dr. Ada Hayden, a botanist who first promoted the directions
preservation of native prairie in Iowa. The prairie was purchased by the From the intersection of High
Iowa Conservation Commission in 1945 and was named in honor of Dr. way‑3 and County Road‑V58
Hayden after her death in 1950. It was recognized as a National Natural (3rd‑Street) in Cresco, drive
Landmark in 1966 and was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968. west on Highway 3 for 13 miles
Located in the gently rolling terrain of the Iowan Surface landform to Jade Avenue. Turn north
region, Hayden Prairie contains over 200 plant species. Big bluestem, (right) and go
Indian grass, and prairie dropseed dominate the upland prairie. Bluejoint 5 miles to 50th Street. Turn west
grass, cordgrass, and sedges dominate the wet habitats. In the spring, a (left) and go 0.25 mile to the
spectacular array of shooting stars can be seen, with bird’s-foot violet, blue- preserve parking area on the
eyed grass, hoary puccoon, golden alexanders, and prairie-smoke adding south side of the road (sign:
to the display. In summer, Michigan lilies, wild rose, prairie blazing stars, Hayden Prairie State Preserve).
and leadplant are conspicuous. There is also blue flag iris, marsh vetchling,
water hemlock, and many others in the wet prairie lowlands. area manager
Several native grassland birds are among the forty-six species of birds Iowa Department of
that have been found here, including bobolinks, meadowlarks, dickcissels, Natural Resources
grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers, northern harriers, short-eared Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit
owls, and Henslow’s sparrows, as well as the introduced ring-necked 2296 Oil Well Road
pheasant and gray partridge. Decorah, IA 52101-2327
Over twenty butterflies are found in Hayden Prairie, including many (563) 382-4895
prairie species such as the great-spangled fritillary, eastern-tailed blue, pearl www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
crescent, and eyed brown. The black dash and two-spotted skipper have State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
been seen in the wet prairie areas, while Poweshiek skipperling, silvery
blue, regal fritillary, wild indigo duskywing, two-spotted skipper, and
Acadian hairstreak use the drier prairie areas.
Hunting is allowed.
Another state preserve in the vicinity is Crossman Prairie.
www.iowadnr.gov 71
Hoffman Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 73
Indian Bluffs Primitive Area State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 75
Indian Fish Trap State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 77
Kalsow Prairie State Preserve
Kalsow Prairie is a 160-acre prairie with many small potholes once typical
of the Des Moines Lobe landform region. This preserve is located 5.5 miles
northwest of Manson in southern Pocahontas County. Dr. Ada Hayden first
described Kalsow Prairie in 1945 during the “Prairie Project” sponsored by directions
the Iowa Academy of Science. As a result of her recommendation, the Iowa From Storm Lake, drive east
Conservation Commission purchased the tract in 1948 from the Kalsow on Highway 7 for 30 miles to
family, who had traditionally used the prairie as a hayfield and pasture. The the intersection of Highway
prairie was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968. 7 and Highway 4. Cross this
The prairie contains over 250 plant species, of which 24 are grasses. After intersection and continue east
winter has disappeared from the prairie, the fresh colors of the spring on County Road
flowers appear with prairie buttercup, spiderwort, golden alexanders, C66 (620th Street) (sign: Kalsow
yellow stargrass, pussytoes, and prairie smoke. In summer, a variety of Prairie 7 miles) for 6 miles to
colors is contributed by black-eyed Susan, purple milkweed, compass 280th Avenue (sign: Kalsow
plant, wood lily, grassleaf goldenrod, rattlesnake master, ironweed, prairie Prairie 1 mile). Turn south
rose, New Jersey tea, purple coneflower, and purple prairie clover. Fall (right) and go 1 mile to 630th
follows with its predominantly purples and golds, including several asters, Street (sign: Kalsow Prairie).
goldenrods, blazing stars, sneezeweed, and bottle and downy gentian. From Fort Dodge, drive west
A complex of fourteen potholes is scattered across the preserve. Prairie on Highway 7 to the
cordgrass, sedges, bluejoint grass, spikerushes, and smartweed characterize intersection of Highway 7
the edges of the potholes. Surrounding low areas contain great lobelia, and Tabor Avenue (County
swamp milkweed, germander, swamp lousewort, Indian hemp, water Road N65) on the south edge
horehound, American germander, and blue flag iris. of the town of Manson. Turn
Among the forty-six species of birds found at Kalsow Prairie are north (right) and follow Tabor
grassland species such as bobolink, western meadowlark, and upland Avenue for 4 miles to 630th
sandpiper. Amphibians and reptiles include Blanchard’s cricket frog, Street (sign: Kalsow Prairie 1
northern prairie skink, and the smooth green snake. Twenty species of mile). Turn west (left) and go
mammals, including the masked shrew, short-tailed shrew, plains pocket 1 mile to the preserve (sign:
gopher, western harvest mouse, deer mouse, meadow vole, and meadow Kalsow Prairie).
jumping mouse inhabit the preserve. Five of the twenty-five butterflies
found here are rare in the state, including the regal fritillary, Arogos area manager
skipper, checkered white, two-spotted skipper, and dion skipper. Iowa Department of
Of geological interest, the preserve is nearly centered over the glacially Natural Resources
buried Manson Crater, which was formed by the impact of a large meteorite Blackhawk Wildlife Unit
during the late Cretaceous period. Box 619
Hunting is permitted. Lake View, IA 51450
Other public areas in the vicinity include Sunken Grove and Leo Shimon (712) 657-2639
Marsh Wildlife Areas. www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 79
Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 81
Lamson Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 83
Liska-Stanek Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 85
Little Maquoketa River Mounds State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 87
Malanaphy Springs State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 89
Malchow Mounds State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 91
Manikowski Prairie State Preserve
area manager
Clinton County
Conservation Board
2308 255th Street
P.O. Box 68
Grand Mound, IA 52751
(563) 847-7202
www.clintoncounty-ia.gov
conservation@clintoncounty-
ia.gov
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 93
Mann Wilderness Area State Preserve
Mann Wilderness Area is a rugged forested area along the Iowa River
Greenbelt. This 103-acre preserve is located five miles north of Steamboat
Rock in northeastern Hardin County. The Hardin County Conservation
Board purchased the rugged area from Joe and Flossie Mann in 1960. It was directions
dedicated as a biological and geological state preserve in 1979. From the intersection of
Located near the eastern edge of the Des Moines Lobe landform region, Highway 175 and Highway 215
the topography of this preserve is dominated by a long, narrow ridge in Eldora, take Highway 175
paralleled by deep ravines draining into the entrenched course of the east 1 mile to County Road S56.
Iowa River, which forms most of the preserve’s southern border. This Turn north (left) and drive on
highly dissected landscape was formed by downcutting streams that this winding road for 4 miles
eroded through soft glacial deposits to the underlying limestone bedrock. to the town of Steamboat Rock.
Rugged topography with frequent outcrops of these Mississippian (350- Continue north through
million-years-old) limestones along the valley walls contribute to the scenic the town on County Road
character of the Iowa River Greenbelt. S56 for 4.5 miles, then turn
Forest vegetation within this preserve varies greatly from place to west (left) onto 160th Street.
place, reflecting the influences of slope, aspect, and past land use. Mature Drive west on 160th Street for
deciduous forest of white oak, red oak, and shagbark hickory prevails on 2.5 miles to a dead end at the
the steepest slopes where logging and grazing were infrequent. Several preserve entrance (sign: Mann
large white oaks over 130 years old can be found along the edge of the ridge Wilderness Area).
top. A large population of paper birch indicates sites where past logging
and grazing were more recent and more intense. Ironwood, basswood, and area manager
ash are common in the understory of these communities. A large plantation Hardin County
of thirty- to forty-year-old pines is also found on the ridge top where the Conservation Board
land was previously cleared for agriculture. Black walnut is the dominant 15537 “S” Avenue
tree in the narrow floodplain of the Iowa River where small patches Ackley, IA 50601-7734
of alluvium have formed. Other woody plants in the preserve include (641) 648-4361
blue beech, bitternut hickory, hazelnut, wahoo, chokecherry, and downy www.
arrowwood. hardincountyconservation.com
Over 170 plants occur here. Spring-blooming plants are abundant hardinccb@
here with snow trillium, bloodroot, spring beauty, and rue anemone. By hardincountyconservation.com
summer, starry false Solomon’s seal, honewort, tall sunflower, and white www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
snakeroot can be seen. The forest is also rich with ferns including northern State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
maidenhair fern, dissected grape fern, and creeping fragile fern. Woodland
sunflower begins blooming in July followed by zigzag aster and blue wood
aster in the fall.
Chorus frogs, gray tree frogs, and cricket frogs can be found here.
Raccoon, opossum, fox squirrel, and white-tailed deer are commonly seen.
The Iowa River is a migration corridor for many raptors, including bald
eagles, Cooper’s hawks, and Swainson’s hawks. Blue-winged warbler and
scarlet tanagers are found here during the nesting season, and woodcock
can infrequently be found during spring migration. Pileated and other
woodpeckers can be frequently seen and heard, as well as many other
songbirds and migrants.
Hardin County is rich in archaeological sites spanning at least 11,000
years. Ancient people used the Iowa River Greenbelt extensively, as
evidenced by many mound groups and campsites in the valley along this
part of the river. Several prehistoric sites dating between 3000 b.c. and a.d.
500 (Archaic through Middle Woodland time periods) are located within or
adjacent to this preserve.
Hunting is permitted. www.iowadnr.gov 95
Other natural areas along the Iowa River Greenbelt include Hardin
City Woodland and Fallen Rock State Preserves, Pine Lake State Park, and
Wildcat Cave.
Marietta Sand Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 97
Mericle Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 99
Merritt Forest State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 101
A. F. Miller State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 103
Montauk State Preserve
The historic Montauk estate was the home and estate of William Larrabee,
Iowa’s twelfth governor (1886–1890). This 46-acre preserve is located one
mile northeast of Clermont in northeastern Fayette County. Constructed
in 1874, Montauk was added to the National Register of Historic Places in directions
1974. In 1976, the Larrabee heirs donated Montauk to the State Historical From West Union, take
Society. It was dedicated as a historical state preserve in 1984. Highway 18 east to Clermont
The preserve sits atop a bluff overlooking the town of Clermont. In (sign: Montauk—Entrance 1/2
addition to the historic mansion and its landscaped grounds, the estate mile) and
contains several other buildings and structures, including a caretaker’s continue to the preserve
house, water tower, well house, laundry, creamery, workshop, barn, entrance north of the highway
corncribs, sheds, vegetable garden, orchard, and statuary. The vintage two- (sign: Montauk—Iowa
story house was designed by E. Thomas Mix and built in 1874 for $20,000. Governor Home State
This twelve-room, Italianate house was made of brick and limestone Historical Site).
from a local quarry. The governor’s wife, Anna, whose East Coast family
had seafaring ties, named Montauk after a Long Island lighthouse. The The preserve is open daily from
sweeping circular drive was lined with bronze statues of Civil War heroes 12 noon to 4 p.m. Memorial
Grant, Sherman, Farragut, and Dodge. William Larrabee resided at Day to October‑31.
Montauk from its construction in 1874 until his death in 1912. One of his
daughters lived in the house until her death in 1965 at the age of ninety- area manager
seven. State Historical Society of Iowa
Prior to serving as governor from 1886 to 1890, William Larrabee served P.O. Box 372
in the state Senate from 1867 to 1885. His chief interests were agricultural Clermont, IA 52135
aid, education, transportation, and prohibition. He was a prosperous miller, (563) 423-7173
farmer, teacher, inventor, and banker. Larrabee was one of Iowa’s wealthiest www.iowahistory.org/historic-
landowners during the late nineteenth century. “Thanks to his visionary sites/montauk
spirit and crusading temperament, William Larrabee helped change the face montauk@acegroup.cc
of Iowa politics, making government more responsive to the needs of many www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
people,” said Rebecca Christian in the winter 1983 Iowan magazine. State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
As a preserve, Montauk demonstrates the historic importance of
Governor Larrabee, the lifestyle of a wealthy Iowa family in the late 1800s,
and the furnishings of Victorian America. The original furniture and
belongings are still intact. Montauk is managed by the State Historical
Society and is maintained as a charming, lived-in atmosphere. The house is
arranged with flowers and personal memorabilia to re-
flect seasonal changes in decor, customs, and preferences of the Larrabee
family. Nine rooms of the mansion are open to the public, including the
sitting room, library, music room, dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms.
Several other buildings on the grounds have been restored and are open to
the public.
The preserve is open from 12 noon to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through
the end of October. Guided tours are available and begin at the front door
every quarter hour. Free tours for educational groups may be arranged by
appointment.
Other historic sites in the town of Clermont include the railroad depot,
Lincoln Park and Statues, David B. Henderson statue, 1912 Clermont
Opera House, Clermont Museum, 1937 John Deer tractor, Burkhard
Riegel’s blacksmith shop, Stone Jail, power plant, 1927 Hart Parr tractor,
1896 Kimball pipe organ (largest in the United States) in the Union Sunday www.iowadnr.gov 105
School, Larrabee School, gateway to City Park, bandshell, and Rueben’s
Toys.
Mossy Glen State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 107
Mount Pisgah Cemetery State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 109
Mount Talbot State Preserve
Mount Talbot State Preserve is a 90-acre area featuring a rugged Loess Hills
landscape with forested slopes and prairie-capped ridges. It is located in
the northern part of Stone State Park, in Plymouth and Woodbury Counties.
In 1885, Daniel Talbot acquired much of the hilly land north of Sioux City. directions
He had an interest in nature, specifically birds. A high grassy ridge of the From the intersection of I-29
Talbot farm became locally known as “Mount Talbot.” In 1895, Thomas and Highway 12 (Exit 151)
Jefferson Stone acquired the Talbot land, and after his death, his son Edgar on the west edge of Sioux
developed it into a private park. In 1912, Sioux City bought the area and City, drive north for 5 miles
designated it as “Stone Park,” a recreational area for city residents. In on Highway 12 through the
1935, Stone Park was tranferred to the Iowa Conservation Commission town of Riverside and past
and became a state park. In the 1980s, a series of biological surveys by Stone State Park to Talbot
The Nature Conservancy and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Road (about 0.75 mile past the
identified the Mount Talbot area of Stone State Park as a high-quality entrance to Stone State Park).
prairie. It was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1989. Turn east (right) and go 0.75
The preserve contains about 35 acres of prairie on narrow ridge tops mile to the preserve on the
adjoining south side of the road (sign:
a large tract of oak woodland in the deep ravines. It supports a rich Mount Talbot State Preserve).
prairie flora of over seventy-five native plants. The site is very scenic with Park on the roadside and walk
panoramic views of the Loess Hills landscape. The prairie is characterized uphill into the preserve.
by a flora including little bluestem, sideoats grama, big bluestem, Indian
grass, leadplant, skeletonweed, pasqueflower, silky aster, and nine- area manager
anthered dalea. In the spring, pasqueflower is seen as early as March. Iowa Department of
Bastard toadflax, lotus-flowered milk-vetch, large-flowered beardtongue, Natural Resources
snow-on-the-mountain, and prairie turnip appear later, along with cut- Stone State Park
leaf iron plant, yucca, hoary vervain, narrowleaf bluets, white sage, gaura, 5001 Talbot Road
dotted gayfeather, and toothed evening primrose. By fall, showy goldenrod Sioux City, IA 51103-1199
and aromatic aster are in bloom. (712) 255-4698
A rich butterfly fauna of forty-two species has also been documented Stone@dnr.iowa.gov
in the preserve. Prairie species include wild indigo duskywing, gorgone www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
skipper, Olympia marble, Leonard’s skipper, dusted skipper, Melissa blue, State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
Arogos skipper, Ottoe skipper, Iowa skipper, crossline skipper, tawny
emperor, regal fritillary, Pawnee skipper, and Reakirt’s blue.
Hunting is not permitted.
Other Loess Hills natural areas include Broken Kettle Grasslands and
Sylvan Runkel, Five Ridge Prairie, and Turin Loess Hills State Preserves.
The Carolyn Benne Nature Trail is found along the southeast border of the
preserve.
www.iowadnr.gov 111
Ocheyedan Mound State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 113
Old State Quarry State Preserve
Old State Quarry is a historic quarry whose limestone was used to construct
the old State Capitol building in Iowa City. This 8.5-acre preserve is
located seven miles north of Iowa City in northern Johnson County. It was
dedicated as a geological and historical state preserve in 1969. directions
This preserve played an important role in the settlement history From the intersection of I-80
and architectural heritage of Iowa. During the late 1830s, a team of and Dubuque Street (exit 244)
quarrymen hand-drilled hundreds of limestone blocks and transported on the north side of Iowa City,
them downstream on rafts for use in the construction of the State Capitol take Dubuque Street north
building in Iowa City. The north and west walls of the quarry still bear the about
century-old drill holes into which steel spikes were driven to break loose 6 miles into the town of North
the huge blocks. From the 1840s through the 1860s, the quarry supplied Liberty. Turn north (right) onto
building stones and foundation materials for several buildings in the Iowa Front Street (County Road F28),
City area. The beautifully crafted stones for the foundation of the “Old go north 0.75 mile, and curve
Brick” Church, the wall along the T. Anne Cleary Walkway between Market east (right) onto Mehaffey
and Burlington Streets, curbing throughout the “Northside Neighborhood” Bridge Road. Follow Mehaffey
area, and supports for the old Burlington Street Bridge are several places Bridge Road about 1.5 miles to
where stone from this quarry can still be seen. During the 1870s, the quarry Rice Ridge Road. Turn south
also supplied foundation blocks for the new State Capitol building in Des (right) and drive to the end
Moines. of this private road, keeping
The limestone seen here is composed largely of cemented fragments to the right. Park on the edge
of brachiopods (shellfish) that lived in a shallow tropical sea during of the road, but do not block
the Devonian period (375 million years ago). The fossil remains were driveways. Please respect
concentrated in erosional tidal channels and cut into older sediments private property (sign: State
beneath them. Fish teeth and plates also are common in lower parts of the Preserve Boundary).
channel sequence. The rock is known as the “State Quarry Limestone,” and
this preserve is the “type-section,” or the standard reference locality for this area manager
particular rock unit. The geographic extent of the State Quarry Limestone is University of Iowa
limited to Johnson County, where it reaches a maximum thickness of about Recreational Services
forty feet. A few feet of this limestone may also be seen nearby at the Merrill E216 Field House
A. Stainbrook State Preserve near the Mehaffey Bridge, one mile north of Iowa City, IA 52242
the Old State Quarry. (319) 335-5565
Other historic or geological areas in the vicinity include Merrill A. www.recserv.uiowa.edu/pro-
Stainbrook and Palisades-Dows State Preserves, Lake Macbride and grams/TTE/index.html
Palisades-Kepler State Parks, and Devonian Fossil Gorge. www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 115
Palisades-Dows State Preserve directions
From the intersection of I-
380 and Highway 30 on the
Palisades-Dows State Preserve is a 330-acre, rugged forested area with cliffs south edge of Cedar Rapids,
(“palisades”) bordering the Cedar River. It is located across the Cedar River take Highway 30 east 4.75
from Palisades-Kepler State Park in Linn County. The first tract of land in miles to Jappa Road (sign:
the preserve was acquired by the Iowa Conservation Commission in 1922. Palisades-Dows Preserve and
In 1962, Sutherland Dows donated 150 acres just south of the state land to Observatory). Turn south
the Linn County Conservation Board. In 1980, 250 acres of state land plus (right) and go 0.8 mile to
80 acres of county land were dedicated as a biological and geological state Ivanhoe Road. Turn east (left)
preserve. onto Ivanhoe Road and follow
Located at the northern edge of the Southern Iowa Drift Plain landform this winding road for about 5
region, Palisades-Dows Preserve takes its name from the sheer cliffs of miles to the Palisades Preserve
Silurian dolomite flanking the Cedar River. The topography of the preserve and Observatory.
is highly dissected with several deep ravines variously named Blow Out From the intersection of I-80
Hollow, Spring Hollow, and Dark Hollow. and Highway 1 on the north
Forests in the preserve are dominated by white oak, red oak, shagbark edge of Iowa City, drive north
hickory, sugar maple, and basswood. Ironwood, blue beech, and alternate- on Highway 1 for about 14
leaved dogwood are found in the understory. In the spring, hepatica, spring miles (through the town of
beauty, and hairy blue violet begin blooming as early as March, followed Solon) to Ivanhoe Road, just
by wild ginger, squirrel corn, toothwort, white trout-lily, showy orchis, before the bridge over the
nodding trillium, and bellwort. Smooth goldenrod, blue wood aster, and Cedar River (arrow sign:
arrow-leaved aster are among the species finishing the year. Walking fern, Palisades-Dows Preserve and
slender cliff-brake, northern maidenhair, bulblet bladder, and fragile ferns Observatory). Turn west (left)
and many species of liverworts and mosses cover the bluffs and rocks. and go 2 miles to the Palisades
In 1869, James S. Minott, veteran of the Civil War, found an eight-by- Preserve and Observatory.
eight-foot cave in Blow Out Hollow where he created a small place to live, Park in the observatory
later to be known as “Minott’s Cave.” In the late 1890s, Minott bought 160 parking lot. Walk west past the
acres on the north side of the Cedar River and sold small lots for summer observatory to the northwest
cottages. Minott also built a hotel there, which contained a restaurant, corner of the mowed area to
general store, and boat livery. His great firsthand knowledge of the plants a footpath leading into the
and animals of the river, cliffs, and forest soon contributed to the Palisades woods. Follow the path to
becoming a popular recreation area. northwest along a ridgetop and
The Palisades were used in prehistoric as well as historical times. Rock down the streambed of Dark
shelters in the larger ravines are among the best Woodland period sites Hollow, ending at the Cedar
in Iowa. In 1941, as two men were working on a cottage near Blow Out River.
Hollow, they rediscovered Minott’s Cave. Further investigation uncovered
artifacts used by prehistoric Indians. Dr. Charles Keyes, a well-known area manager
archaeologist, began exploring the area and found several other rock Iowa Department of
shelters in the area of Spring Hollow. Many occupation sites in these rock Natural Resources
shelters dating from the Early to Late Woodland periods have been found Palisades-Kepler State Park
throughout the preserve. 700 Kepler Drive
Among the birds found in the preserve are neotropical migrants such Mt. Vernon, IA 52314-9645
as warblers and vireos. Neotropical migrants found here that need large (319) 895-6039
tracts of unbroken forest for successful breeding include the Acadian Palisades_Kepler@dnr.iowa.gov
flycatcher, scarlet tanager, American redstart, Louisiana waterthrush, www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
ovenbird, Kentucky warbler, wood thrush, and yellow-throated vireo. State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
Other forest birds found here include pileated, red-headed, and red-bellied
woodpeckers, Carolina wren, Cooper’s hawk, red- and white-breasted
nuthatches, hermit thrush, and evening grosbeak. A great blue heron
rookery is present in one of the larger ravines.
Other natural or geological areas in the vicinity include Palisades-Kepler www.iowadnr.gov 117
State Park and Merrill A. Stainbrook and Old State Quarry State Preserves.
Pecan Grove State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 119
Pellett Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 121
Pilot Grove State Preserve
Pilot Grove State Preserve is a 7-acre wooded area that is part of a larger
grove that served as a local landmark for early settlers. It is located five
miles west of Williamsburg in Iowa County. In 1978, this wooded tract
and an adjacent pioneer cemetery were placed on the National Registry directions
of Historical Places. In 1980, the Kelting family donated the grove of trees From I-80 take exit 216. Drive
to the Iowa Conservation Commission with the expressed desire that it be 4 miles south on County Road
restored as closely as possible to its condition at the time of Iowa’s pioneer V66 to 260th Street (watch for
settlement in the mid-1800s. Later in 1980 the area was dedicated as a sign). Turn west and go 0.75
historical state preserve. mile to the preserve on the
The gently rolling terrain around the preserve is characteristic of the north side of the road. The
Southern Iowa Drift Plain landform region. In the mid-1800s, the preserve preserve is north and east of
was part of a larger wooded knoll rising above the surrounding prairie Pilot Grove Cemetery (sign:
that could be seen for miles around. It served as a local landmark that Pilot Grove State Preserve).
gave a sense of direction for people traveling to and from Marengo, the
county seat. Hence it earned the name “Pilot Grove.” West of the preserve area manager
is a small pioneer cemetery. In 1870, local settlers designated this area as Iowa County Conservation
a memorial to pioneers and war veterans. The historical marker at the Board
entrance to the cemetery reads: “This site, chosen by pioneers as a burial 2550 G Avenue
ground, includes a remnant of Pilot Grove, a landmark for early travelers. Ladora, IA 52251
Earlier burials in the vicinity were removed to this place.” (319) 655-8465
The preserve consists primarily of bur oak woodland. Spring wildflowers www.netins.net/showcase/iccb
include mayapple, columbine, Virginia bluebells, and Solomon’s seal. A iccbee@netins.net
tiny patch of prairie grasses and wildflowers that includes big bluestem, www.iowacountyconservation.
sideoats grama, Indian grass, and leadplant can be seen on a slope just com
west of the preserve. This small preserve provides a glimpse of the original www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
vegetation that once was abundant on this knoll. State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
Other state preserves in the vicinity include Fleming Woods and Indian
Fish Trap.
www.iowadnr.gov 123
Pilot Knob State Preserve
Pilot Knob State Preserve is a 238-acre area in Pilot Knob State Park, four
miles east of Forest City in northeastern Hancock County. It features a
“poor fen” and an extensive forest on a prominent hill associated with the
Algona and Altamont moraines. In 1921, a group of local citizens purchased directions
land around Pilot Knob and donated it to the state. The Iowa Conservation From the intersection of I-35
Commission established this area as a state park in 1924. In 1968, a large and Highway 18 on the east
portion of the park was dedicated as a biological state preserve. side of the town of Clear Lake,
Located in the Des Moines Lobe landform region, Pilot Knob is a classic drive north on I-35 for 9 miles
glacial kame. These distinct features are large, steep-sided, often conical to Highway 9 (exit 203). Turn
hills composed of sand, gravel, and small boulders. This material was west (left) and go 12 miles on
carried by a meltwater stream that poured off the edge of a stagnant ice Highway 9 to 205th Avenue.
front or into a large hole in the disintegrating ice. Bowl-shaped depressions Turn south (left) and follow
(“kettles”) in the landscape result from melting of partially buried blocks of this road 1 mile into Pilot Knob
glacial ice. The Winnebago River was a drainage outlet during melting of State Park (sign: Pilot Knob
the Algona ice front between 13,500 and 12,000 years ago. The Pilot Knob State Park). Continue south
Member of the Wisconsinan-age Dows Formation is named for this site. on the winding park road for
Over 420 plants have been found throughout the preserve in several plant an additional 0.75 mile to the
communities. Most of the preserve consists of dry upland forest dominated Dead Man’s Lake picnic area,
by bur oak and northern pin oak. A small grove of white oak also occurs which is in the west end of the
in the southeastern portion of the preserve. Mesic forests on some north- preserve.
facing slopes are dominated by red oak and basswood. Ironwood, hazelnut,
ash, and elm are common in the understory. Snow trillium, bloodroot, area manager
hepatica, and rue anemone can be seen as early as March, joined later by Iowa Department of
downy yellow violet, woodland sedge, wild ginger, Dutchman’s breeches, Natural Resources
bellwort, showy orchis, wild geranium, nodding trillium, blue cohosh, Pilot Knob State Park
wood anemone, ladies’ tobacco, jack-in-the-pulpit, and white trout-lily. 2148 340th Street
Summer flowers include wild leek, wild sarsaparilla, white avens, and Forest City, IA 50436
purple joe-pye-weed. By fall, zigzag goldenrod, smooth goldenrod, blue (641) 581-4835
wood aster, and Ontario aster are blooming. Many ferns are found in the Pilot_Knob@dnr.iowa.gov
forest throughout the year. www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
Dead Man’s Lake is located in a 15-acre depression in the southwestern State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
corner of the preserve. The east half of the lake is mostly open water
surrounded by a narrow fringe of wetland vegetation composed largely of
cattails, bulrushes, and willows, but the western half is a floating mat. More
properly termed a “poor fen,” this boggy habitat is comprised of nearly a
continuous mat of Sphagnum moss. Several rare plants in Iowa occur only
here, including sundew and cordroot sedge. Other rare species in the bog
include bog willow and slender cottongrass.
The marshes that are scattered throughout the preserve in the poorly
drained depressions are dominated by sedges, bulrushes, and spikerushes.
Other plants commonly found along these marsh edges include horsetail,
arrowhead, smartweed, marsh muhly, rice cutgrass, and prairie cordgrass.
Ferns include marsh fern, sensitive fern, and crested fern. Many plants
bloom through the seasons beginning with spring cress and extending
progressively through the summer with blue flag iris, giant bur reed,
swamp loosestrife, monkey flower, marsh bellflower, swamp milkweed,
northern bugleweed, and bulblet water hemlock. Great lobelia and nodding
bur marigold fill out the fall season.
Pilot Knob State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
for its significant Civilian Conservation Corps facilities.
Hunting is not permitted. www.iowadnr.gov 125
Other natural areas in the vicinity include Gabrielson Wildlife Area and
Hoffman Prairie State Preserve.
Retz Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 127
Roberts Creek State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 129
Rock Creek Island State Preserve
Rock Creek Island is a 30-acre wooded island in the Cedar River in Cedar
County. It is located 0.5 mile upstream from the town of Rochester and has
been owned by the state of Iowa since Iowa became a state in 1849. The
island was dedicated as a geological state preserve in 1983. There are only directions
a few large, relatively stable islands on interior streams in Iowa. The mouth The preserve is an island in the
of Rock Creek drains into the Cedar River just to the east of the preserve, Cedar River. It is not accessible
hence the name. by land.
This island is more than a half-mile long and 500 feet wide, and From the intersection of I-80
demonstrates long-term alluvial dynamics. The upstream end of the island, and Highway 1 on the north
its oldest and highest part (ten to fifteen feet above normal river level), side
gradually erodes while new material is continually added to the younger, of Iowa City, go east on I-80 for
lower end (three to five feet above normal river level). 13 miles to County Road X40
Silver maple and hackberry are the dominant tree species over most of (exit 259). Turn north (left) on
the island, accompanied by sycamore, bitternut hickory, walnut, and a County Road X40 (Garfield
variety of other trees. Avenue) and go 4 miles to
Cedar Valley Park in the town
of Cedar Valley. From the boat
ramp there, you may float
5 miles downstream to the
preserve, an island in the Cedar
River. Downstream from the
preserve about 1 mile, there is
a boat ramp at Rochester Park
near County Road F44, south of
the town of Rochester.
contact
Iowa Department of
Natural Resources
Odessa Wildlife Unit
260 Mulberry
Wapello, IA 52653
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 131
Rock Island State Preserve
Rock Island State Preserve is a 17-acre area featuring a sand prairie and
an associated wetland and woodland. It is located in the northwest part of
the city of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. The tract was given to the Linn
County Conservation Board by the Rock Island Railroad Company in 1962 directions
and was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1978. From the intersection of I-380
Located in the Iowan Surface landform region, the preserve stands and Highway 100 (Collins
conspicuously above the nearby Cedar River, whose valley was the source Road) on the north side of
of sand blown onto adjacent uplands to form undulating sand dunes. Cedar Rapids, take Collins
Vegetation in the preserve consists of upland dry sand prairie and a Road west 1.5 miles to
wooded area with upland, lowland, and wet habitats. A total of over 130 intersection with Edgewood
plants have been found in the preserve in various habitats. The prairie Road. Turn south (left) onto
hosts a beautiful array of flowering forbs throughout the year starting with Edgewood Road and drive 0.5
fringed puccoon in the spring. Hog peanut and lousewort can also be seen mile to intersection with 42nd
in the spring, followed later by Indian paintbrush, sand milkweed, butterfly Street NE. Turn west (right)
weed, pale purple coneflower, gray-headed coneflower, black-eyed onto 42nd Street and drive
Susan, showy tick-trefoil, New Jersey tea, and common mountain mint in 1 mile to intersection with
the summer. Fall flowers include gerardia, rough blazing star, grassleaf Preserve Lane (just past Xavier
goldenrod, and white sage. The sandy prairie is also home for the hognose High School). Turn north
snake. (right) onto Preserve Lane and
Portions of the floodplain in the woodland were once used as a source go 0.25‑mile to the preserve on
of fill by the railroad, creating a series of pools. Today, this habitat the west side of the high school
supports several uncommon wetland plant species and Sphagnum moss. athletic field.
The lowland forest is dominated by river birch, but dark green bulrush,
American manna grass, rice cut-grass, cattail, Michigan lily, duck potato, area manager
soft rush, woolly bulrush, water plantain, sensitive fern, and swamp Linn County Conservation
horsetail are also found here. Among the sixty species of butterflies noted Board
at the preserve are byssus skipper, checkered white, gorgone checkerspot, 1890 County Home Road
northern broken dash, painted lady, wild indigo duskywing, Acadian Marion, IA 52302
hairstreak, and fiery skipper. (319) 892-6450
Other natural areas in the vicinity include Palisades-Dows, Behrens www.mycountyparks.com/
Ponds and Woodland, and Hanging Bog State Preserves, and Palisades- county/linn
Kepler State Park. conservation@linncounty.org
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 133
Roggman Boreal Slopes State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 135
Rolling Thunder Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 137
Saint James Lutheran Church State Preserve
Located immediately north of the Fort Atkinson State Preserve, the Saint
James Lutheran Church State Preserve contains the remnants of a historic
church constructed between 1840 and 1866. Originally constructed by
the First Congregational Church Society of Fort Atkinson, it was sold to directions
the German Evangelical Lutheran Saint James Church Society in 1871. From Decorah, drive south
It served as a place for worship as well as the center of the German on Highway 52 for 9 miles to
immigrant community until 1894, when it was abandoned. Today, the Calmar. Turn west (right) onto
1-acre site contains the roofless, limestone walls of the original church Highway 24 and go 5 miles
and a small cemetery with burials dating to 1874. It was acquired by the to the town of Fort Atkinson.
Iowa Conservation Commission in 1970 and dedicated as a historical state From Highway 24 (1st Street) in
preserve. the town of Fort Atkinson, turn
Other historic preserves in the state include Fort Atkinson, Montauk, west (right) onto 1st Street NW
Mount Pisgah Cemetery, and Old State Quarry. and go to 9th Avenue (watch
for Historic Site signs). Turn
north (right) and go 0.5 block to
the preserve (sign: Saint James
Lutheran Church).
area manager
Iowa Department of
Natural Resources
Volga River Recreation Area
10225 Ivy Road
Fayette, IA 52142
(563) 425-4161
Volga_River@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 139
Savage Woods State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 141
Searryl’s Cave State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 143
Sheeder Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 145
Silver Lake Fen State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 147
Silvers-Smith Woods State Preserve Slinde Mounds State Preserve
Preserve 67 on map, page xii
www.iowadnr.gov 151
Starr’s Cave State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 155
Nestor Stiles Prairie State Preserve
area manager
Cherokee County
Conservation Board
629 River Road
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6709
www.cherokeecountyparks.
com
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 157
Stinson Prairie State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 161
Sylvan Runkel State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 165
Turin Loess Hills State Preserve
Williams Prairie State Preserve is a 30-acre area featuring a wet prairie. It directions
is located 2.5 miles north of Oxford and 15 miles northwest of Iowa City in From the intersection of I-80
western Johnson County. In the early 1900s, John Williams bought the area and I-380 on the northwest side
and used it as a hayfield. Botanists from the University of Iowa discovered of Iowa City, take I-80 west for
the area about 1960 and have used it as an outdoor classroom since that 9 miles to County Road W38
time. It was deeded to The Nature Conservancy in 1973 and was dedicated (exit 230). Turn north (right)
as a biological state preserve in 1976. onto W38 (Black Hawk
Located along the edge of the Iowan Surface landform region, the Avenue) and drive 2.5 miles
preserve is situated within the broad valley of the Iowa River. Most of into the town of Oxford. On
the preserve consists of shallow lowland that remains wet through the the south edge of Oxford, turn
spring and into midsummer. A wet prairie, dominated by dense stands of east (right) onto Hawkeye Road
sedges and bluejoint grass, is located here. Some dry knolls are located in (295th Street) and follow it
the eastern and southern portions of the site, dominated by big bluestem 0.5 mile to Augusta Avenue.
and Kentucky bluegrass. Over 300 species of vascular plants have been Turn north (left) and follow
reported in the preserve, including twelve species of sedges and about Augusta Avenue (which
forty species of grasses. Eight bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) are also becomes Highway 109) through
found here. In the spring, hoary puccoon, prairie phlox, yellow stargrass, town for 1.25 miles to Highway
spring cress, golden alexanders, shooting star, marsh marigold, and swamp 6. Cross Highway 6 and
buttercup can be seen in bloom, followed by swamp milkweed, butterfly continue north (straight) on
weed, Michigan lily, marsh vetchling, wild indigo, indigo bush, leadplant, W38 1.5 miles to Grabin Road.
blue flag iris, marsh bellflower, and prairie blazing star in the summer. Turn west (left) on Grabin
Rare plants found here include Virginia bunch-flower and northern adder’s Road and go 1 mile to Black
tongue fern. Fall brings swamp lousewort, sneezeweed, panicled aster, Hawk Avenue NW. Turn north
nodding bur marigold, New England aster, flat-topped aster, Canada (right) and go 0.25 mile to the
goldenrod, grassleaf goldenrod, and bottle gentian. preserve on the east side of the
Many nesting birds can be found here, including sedge wren, bobolink, road (sign: Williams Prairie).
grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, yellow-throated warbler, and Access is through a gate on
song sparrow. the southwest corner of the
Botany and zoology classes from the University of Iowa, Cornell College, preserve.
and local high schools use this preserve for an outdoor classroom. Hunting
is not permitted. area manager
Other natural areas in the vicinity include Rock Island, Palisades-Dows, The Nature Conservancy
and Hanging Bog State Preserves and Palisades-Kepler State Park. 303 Locust St., Suite 402
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-5044
www.tnc.org/iowa
iowa@tnc.org
www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
www.iowadnr.gov 173
Wittrock Indian Village State Preserve
Wittrock Indian Village State Preserve is a 6-acre area featuring the buried
remains of an ancient, fortified village occupied by Indians of the Mill
Creek culture between the years 1200 and 1300. It is located on a low terrace
of Waterman Creek, a tributary of the Little Sioux River, in O’Brien County. Access to preserve is across
The property area was deeded to the Iowa Conservation Commission in private land. Permission must
1937 by the Wittrock family, who plowed around the site for their farm be obtained to cross private
fields, and left the site intact. The site was dedicated as a National Historic property.
Landmark in 1965 and as an archaeological state preserve in 1968.
A plaque and interpretive sign with the following quotation are located area manager
on the eastern edge of the preserve: Iowa Department of
Natural Resources
The ancient Mill Creek Indians built this village and lived here for about Great Lakes Wildlife Unit
300 years. They made their living hunting bison and cultivating corn, 2408 17th St.
beans and squash. Living was dangerous here in those days and the Spirit Lake, IA 51360
villagers found it necessary to build substantial fortifications to protect (712) 336-3524
themselves from other Indians. www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
Posts have been set along sections of the north and south stockade. State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov
The original stockade completely surrounded the village. Posts were
set to make a solid stockade wall. Inside the wall the villagers built 20
(uniformly sized) rectangular earth lodges 20 by 30 ft. in size and set two
ft. deep in the ground. Each lodge had a central fireplace and storage pits
and was entered by way of an (south-facing) entrance tunnel (10 to 15
feet long). Excavation in 1965 by the State Archaeologist first disclosed
the existence of the stockade and house type.
Major collections from the site are currently curated at the University of
Wisconsin’s Department of Anthropology in Madison and at the Office of
the State Archaeologist in Iowa City. Some material is also curated at the
Sanford Museum in Cherokee.
Gabions (erosion control structures) were built in 1994 on Waterman
Creek to protect the western edge of the preserve from streambank erosion.
Other archaeological sites in Iowa include Catfish Creek, Gitchie
Manitou, Hartley Fort, Indian Bluffs, Little Maquoketa River Mounds,
Malchow Mounds, Slinde Mounds, Toolesboro Mounds, Turkey River
Mounds, and Woodland Mounds State Preserves and Effigy Mounds
National Monument.
www.iowadnr.gov 175
Woodland Mounds State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 177
Woodman Hollow State Preserve
www.iowadnr.gov 181
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