Overview
Fremont County is home to Waubonsie/Wa-Shawtee State Park, a great place to view Fall's vibrant colors from its overlooks and wandering trails. It is also home to destinations like the Sugar Clay Winery and the Riverton Wildlife Area.
With orchards, museums and historical sites you can vist the communities of Hamburg and Thurman or with access to the Pleasant Overview Loop you can also detour and visit Riverton and Sidney.
Directions
Byway Spine
Enter Fremont County on U.S. 275 which leads through Tabor until its junction with County Rd. J18
At County Rd. J18, turn right (west) to go through the Hills. About 6 miles later, you will meet County Rd. J24. At County Rd. J24, turn right to enter Thurman.
In Thurman, watch for Washington Street and turn left (south) onto that street. Just outside of town, Washington St. becomes County Rd. L44, also called Bluff Rd. and this will lead you along the base of the Hills on the eastern edge of the valley of the Missouri River.
About 17 miles after beginning your journey on L44, you enter Hamburg where the route becomes the city’s main thoroughfare,E Street. E Street takes you to the east side of Hamburg where you meet U.S. 275 again and continue going straight (east).
The last length of your drive on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway leads you across the Nishnabotna River. Soon, you and U.S. 275 turn right to go to Iowa’s southern border,just over a mile away, with a ridge of the Loess Hills on your left and the Nishnabotna on your right.
Pleasant Overview Loop
This paved, 20-mile loop takes you east from the Spine toward Sidney on County Rd. J34, also called Knox Rd. Note that just after you get on County Rd. J34, if you take the first gravel road to your left (north), you’ll end up at an old cemetery which provides a beautiful overlook of some of the Loess Hills.
On County Rd. L34, you will wind through the Hills to meet U.S.275 in the southern part of Sidney. Turn left (north) onto Main St. which soon veers to the right around the county courthouse as Indiana St.
At the far side of the square, you turn right at Filmore St., which is also Iowa Hwy. 2. This leads you out of the Hills onto the flats created by the West and East Nishnabotna Rivers.
About 5 miles out of Sidney, you turn south on County Rd. L68 to the Riverton Wildlife Area, less than 4 miles south of Iowa Hwy. 2. Bring binoculars to watch the birds.
In the town of Riverton, turn right (west) onto K St., which is also County Rd. J46. Upon intersecting U.S. 275 4.5 miles later, go straight on what is now Iowa Hwy. 2. In less than 2 miles is Waubonsie - Wa-Shawtee State Park and, a mile later, the Byway Spine on County Rd. L44 which is also called Bluff Rd.
Allow about 35 minutes drive time on this paved route.
Spring Valley Loop
This 3-mile route on gravel leads you through cuts in the Hills before rejoining the Byway Spine. Some caves and brick-faced cellars can be seen as well as some stone outcroppings, a rarity in the Loess Hills.
You begin this loop by turning left (east) from County Rd. L44 onto 222nd St. which is less than a half mile south of County Rd. L34, the beginning of the Pleasant Overview Loop. At 270th Avenue, you turn right (south) and the avenue will lead you back to County Rd. L44, the Byway Spine, shortly.
You will probably spend less than 10 minutes on this short drive on gravel surface.
Birding
Fremont County is one of the best places to go birding in Iowa. Learn more here.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Fremont County.
Communities along the byway in Fremont County include:
Hiking
Waubonsie State Park
2585 Waubonsie Park Road, Hamburg
Named for Chief Waubonsie of the Native American Pottawattamie tribe, the park is much the same today as it was when it was purchased in 1926. The changing seasons complement the beauty of this countryside. Spring brings the blossoms of dozens of varieties of flowers and shrubs. Summer beckons with cooling breezes on the high places and in shady glens. Nowhere in Iowa are there more brilliant splashes of color than at Waubonsie in the fall, and in the winter the bluffs and ridges are sometimes beautifully blanketed with snow. Several miles of hiking and equestrian trails are available throughout the park.
Biking
Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills in Fremont County.
Fremont County is home to Waubonsie/Wa-Shawtee State Park, a great place to view Fall's vibrant colors from its overlooks and wandering trails. It is also home to destinations like the Sugar Clay Winery and the Riverton Wildlife Area.
With orchards, museums and historical sites you can vist the communities of Hamburg and Thurman or with access to the Pleasant Overview Loop you can also detour and visit Riverton and Sidney.
Directions
Byway Spine
Enter Fremont County on U.S. 275 which leads through Tabor until its junction with County Rd. J18
At County Rd. J18, turn right (west) to go through the Hills. About 6 miles later, you will meet County Rd. J24. At County Rd. J24, turn right to enter Thurman.
In Thurman, watch for Washington Street and turn left (south) onto that street. Just outside of town, Washington St. becomes County Rd. L44, also called Bluff Rd. and this will lead you along the base of the Hills on the eastern edge of the valley of the Missouri River.
About 17 miles after beginning your journey on L44, you enter Hamburg where the route becomes the city’s main thoroughfare,E Street. E Street takes you to the east side of Hamburg where you meet U.S. 275 again and continue going straight (east).
The last length of your drive on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway leads you across the Nishnabotna River. Soon, you and U.S. 275 turn right to go to Iowa’s southern border,just over a mile away, with a ridge of the Loess Hills on your left and the Nishnabotna on your right.
Pleasant Overview Loop
This paved, 20-mile loop takes you east from the Spine toward Sidney on County Rd. J34, also called Knox Rd. Note that just after you get on County Rd. J34, if you take the first gravel road to your left (north), you’ll end up at an old cemetery which provides a beautiful overlook of some of the Loess Hills.
On County Rd. L34, you will wind through the Hills to meet U.S.275 in the southern part of Sidney. Turn left (north) onto Main St. which soon veers to the right around the county courthouse as Indiana St.
At the far side of the square, you turn right at Filmore St., which is also Iowa Hwy. 2. This leads you out of the Hills onto the flats created by the West and East Nishnabotna Rivers.
About 5 miles out of Sidney, you turn south on County Rd. L68 to the Riverton Wildlife Area, less than 4 miles south of Iowa Hwy. 2. Bring binoculars to watch the birds.
In the town of Riverton, turn right (west) onto K St., which is also County Rd. J46. Upon intersecting U.S. 275 4.5 miles later, go straight on what is now Iowa Hwy. 2. In less than 2 miles is Waubonsie - Wa-Shawtee State Park and, a mile later, the Byway Spine on County Rd. L44 which is also called Bluff Rd.
Allow about 35 minutes drive time on this paved route.
Spring Valley Loop
This 3-mile route on gravel leads you through cuts in the Hills before rejoining the Byway Spine. Some caves and brick-faced cellars can be seen as well as some stone outcroppings, a rarity in the Loess Hills.
You begin this loop by turning left (east) from County Rd. L44 onto 222nd St. which is less than a half mile south of County Rd. L34, the beginning of the Pleasant Overview Loop. At 270th Avenue, you turn right (south) and the avenue will lead you back to County Rd. L44, the Byway Spine, shortly.
You will probably spend less than 10 minutes on this short drive on gravel surface.
Birding
Fremont County is one of the best places to go birding in Iowa. Learn more here.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Fremont County.
Communities along the byway in Fremont County include:
Hiking
Waubonsie State Park
Named for Chief Waubonsie of the Native American Pottawattamie tribe, the park is much the same today as it was when it was purchased in 1926. The changing seasons complement the beauty of this countryside. Spring brings the blossoms of dozens of varieties of flowers and shrubs. Summer beckons with cooling breezes on the high places and in shady glens. Nowhere in Iowa are there more brilliant splashes of color than at Waubonsie in the fall, and in the winter the bluffs and ridges are sometimes beautifully blanketed with snow. Several miles of hiking and equestrian trails are available throughout the park.
Biking
Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills in Fremont County.