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Iowa's landscape was once a vast sea of tallgrass prairie stretching as far as the eye could see. This expanse covered over 30 million acres. However, today, less than 0.1% of that original prairie remains.
More than half of the remaining remnant prairie in Iowa is found in the Loess Hills of western Iowa. Prairie enthusiasts have plenty of public areas in the Loess Hills to explore what is left of the eastern tallgrass prairie. However, there are also interesting plants from the woodlands that populate the Loess Hills. Did you know the largest edible fruit native to North America can be found at a popular state park in southwestern Iowa? Keep reading to learn more! Plan your road trip on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway using the Explore the Byway page. |
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Yucca at Turin Preserve
Photo: Golden Hills RC&D
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A 220-acre section of Turin was dedicated as a biological and geological state preserve and serves as an excellent example of the unique “peak and saddle” topography of the thick loess deposits that developed 14,000 to 30,000 years ago from windblown silt. Turin Loess Hills State Preserve became part of a National Natural Landmark in 1986.
Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) grows in dry soils of the great plains and along the western edge of the tall grass prairie. The Loess Hills of western Iowa is the furthest eastern reach of this plant's range. Soapweed is pollinated by night-flying moths who use the ovary of the flower as the site to lay their eggs. Neither the yucca moth nor yucca plant can survive without the other. |
Big Bluestem at Sioux City Prairie
Photo: Lance Brisbois
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Sioux City Prairie is a beautiful 150-acre tallgrass prairie located within the city of Sioux City. It is the nation’s largest native prairie in an urban setting.
Iowa's landscape was once a vast sea of tallgrass prairie stretching as far as the eye could see. This expanse covered over 30 million acres. However, today, less than 0.1% of that original prairie remains. Nestled within this transformed landscape, Sioux City Prairie's resilience remains and offers visitors a rare glimpse into the past, being one of the largest native prairie tracts in an urban setting. Big bluestem was a dominant species in the tall grass prairie that covered much of Iowa before European settlement |
Pasque flowers at Loess Hills State Forest
Photo: Lance Brisbois
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Loess Hills State Forest, near Iowa’s western border in Harrison and Monona counties, comprises 11,484 acres across four units. State forest trails and amenities are often less developed and provide a more rugged outdoor experience. Please take this into account and plan accordingly.
Pasque flowers are often found on drier hillsides and have petals that range in color from dark lavender to off-white. One of the earliest prairie wildflowers to bloom, you can see pasque flowers on sunny ridges in the Loess Hills State Forest. Two areas in particular are the Pisgah Unit and the scenic overlook on Oak Avenue in the Preparation Canyon Unit. |
Pawpaws at Waubonsie State Park
Photo: Friends of Waubonsie
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Waubonsie State Park in southwest Iowa is known for its exceptional vistas of Iowa’s unique Loess Hills and the Nebraska plains. Its extensive trail system offers something for the avid mountain biker, equestrians looking for a relaxing ride, or anyone eager to hike amongst the tranquil surroundings of the park’s ridgetop prairies and shaded woodland valleys.
Those shaded valleys are the only place in southwestern Iowa where you can find the largest edible fruit native to North America. Pawpaws are small trees found in the understory at Waubonsie. Their fruit is edible and tastes like a cross between a banana and mango. Foraging for commercial purposes is expressly forbidden. |
Prairie Moonwort at Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Campground
Photo: National Park Service
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The Loess Hills Prairie Seminar is a free annual event that was started back in 1977 that aims to bring together conservation professionals, environmental educators, nature enthusiasts, and the general public for a weekend of free, educational, and hands-on sessions in the Loess Hills.
Prairie moonwort is a rare species found in the Great Plains. It prefers steep, exposed areas, which there are many in the Loess Hills. The rare species was found in the early 1980s near the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar campground in the surrounding public land (Loess Hills WMA, Sylvan Runkel State Preserve). It can also be found at Turin Loess Hills State Preserve. |
