Overview
Welcome to Harrison County, located mid-way on the Byway Spine. Harrison County is home to Fountainbleu Loop, Orchard Ridge Loop and Sawmill Hollow Run.
Check the Visit Cities section of this site to see all area attractions, including the Harrison County Historical Village, Museum of Religious Arts, McClean Museum and Dougal House, Willow Lake Recreation Area, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge and Wilson Island State Recreation Area.
Directions
Enter Harrison County on Iowa Highway 183 from the north and pass through Pisgah, home of the Loess Hills State Forest Visitor Center.
A bit more than 9 miles south of Pisgah, you meet Iowa Highway 127 which you take for 11 miles to the east edge of Logan, the county seat.
At Logan, you turn left (west) on U.S. 30, which was the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway. As you drive west, you will arrive at the Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center. No more than one-half mile beyond the Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center on U.S. 30, turn left onto County Road F58 which runs east.
About 4 miles later, at the junction of County Road L 34, you turn right (south) to take L34 to the southern county line, about 6 miles away.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Harrison County.
Communities along the byway in Harrison County include:
Hiking
Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area
2 mi. southeast of Little Sioux
Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area was donated by a local resident and is located in the Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest. This area has 165 acres that is predominately woodland, along with ridge top native prairie stands and a network of trails. Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area is excellent for hunting turkey, deer, quail, squirrels and rabbits. It is also an excellent bird watching location for migrating woodland species and morel mushroom hunting. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR.
Willow Lake Recreation Area
5 mi. west of Woodbine
Willow Lake Recreation Area consists of a 27-acre fishing lake with boat ramp access, fishing jetties, prairie and woodland trails, campground with electricity and a modern shower house (open April through October), and cabins for rent are some of the amenities of this area.
Murray Hill Overlook
2.5 mi. northeast of Little Sioux
Murray Hill Scenic Overlook offers a panoramic view of the Missouri River Valley. Yucca plants and native flowers dominate the Loess Hill prairie landscape. Interpretive signs are located at the overlook that explain the significance and history of the Loess Hills. This is one of the most picturesque locations in the Loess Hills. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR.
Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area
7 mi. north of Missouri Valley
Located in the Loess Hills, Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area has 155 acres of woodland and ridge top prairie habitat with hunting for deer, turkey, pheasants, rabbits and squirrels. There is also has a six acre lake for fishing with bass, bluegill and catfish. Electric motor only. It is an excellent location for bird watching and morel mushroom hunting. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR. Access to Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area is on a Level B "dirt" road.
Old Town Conservation Area
4 mi. southeast of Missouri Valley
This 341-acre area lies in the Loess Hills adjacent to the National Park Service (NPS) identified Loveland Special Landscape Area (SLA). The Old Town Conservation Area features a restored prairie and bur oak savannah. A network of hiking trails, scenic vistas and abundant populations of deer and turkey provide a variety of public recreation opportunities. It is also an excellent location for bird watching for migrant species such as dickcissels and warblers.
Loess Hills State Forest - Little Sioux, Pisgah, and Mondamin Units
northwestern Harrison County
The Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest, 3,627 acres, lies between the towns of Little Sioux and Pisgah. The Pisgah Unit, 2,549 acres, is located east of Pisgah. This Unit is the site of the forest headquarters, which was built on a 3 acre lot donated to the Iowa DNR by the Town of Pisgah in 1989. The headquarters and visitors center is located two blocks west of State Highway 183, at 206 Polk Street. The Mondamin Unit, 1,096 acres, is east of the Town of Mondamin, 3 miles on Highway 127.
The entire forest is open to hunting except for areas within 200 yards of residences and the headquarters area. The entire forest is also open to hiking, nature study, and cross country skiing. There is good all weather and dirt road accessibility to the forest area's 34 parking lots.
Biking
Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills in Harrison County.
Welcome to Harrison County, located mid-way on the Byway Spine. Harrison County is home to Fountainbleu Loop, Orchard Ridge Loop and Sawmill Hollow Run.
Check the Visit Cities section of this site to see all area attractions, including the Harrison County Historical Village, Museum of Religious Arts, McClean Museum and Dougal House, Willow Lake Recreation Area, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge and Wilson Island State Recreation Area.
Directions
Enter Harrison County on Iowa Highway 183 from the north and pass through Pisgah, home of the Loess Hills State Forest Visitor Center.
A bit more than 9 miles south of Pisgah, you meet Iowa Highway 127 which you take for 11 miles to the east edge of Logan, the county seat.
At Logan, you turn left (west) on U.S. 30, which was the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway. As you drive west, you will arrive at the Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center. No more than one-half mile beyond the Harrison County Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center on U.S. 30, turn left onto County Road F58 which runs east.
About 4 miles later, at the junction of County Road L 34, you turn right (south) to take L34 to the southern county line, about 6 miles away.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Harrison County.
Communities along the byway in Harrison County include:
Hiking
Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area
2 mi. southeast of Little Sioux
Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area was donated by a local resident and is located in the Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest. This area has 165 acres that is predominately woodland, along with ridge top native prairie stands and a network of trails. Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area is excellent for hunting turkey, deer, quail, squirrels and rabbits. It is also an excellent bird watching location for migrating woodland species and morel mushroom hunting. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR.
Willow Lake Recreation Area
5 mi. west of Woodbine
Willow Lake Recreation Area consists of a 27-acre fishing lake with boat ramp access, fishing jetties, prairie and woodland trails, campground with electricity and a modern shower house (open April through October), and cabins for rent are some of the amenities of this area.
Murray Hill Overlook
2.5 mi. northeast of Little Sioux
Murray Hill Scenic Overlook offers a panoramic view of the Missouri River Valley. Yucca plants and native flowers dominate the Loess Hill prairie landscape. Interpretive signs are located at the overlook that explain the significance and history of the Loess Hills. This is one of the most picturesque locations in the Loess Hills. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR.
Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area
7 mi. north of Missouri Valley
Located in the Loess Hills, Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area has 155 acres of woodland and ridge top prairie habitat with hunting for deer, turkey, pheasants, rabbits and squirrels. There is also has a six acre lake for fishing with bass, bluegill and catfish. Electric motor only. It is an excellent location for bird watching and morel mushroom hunting. It is located in the Loess Hills Bird Conservation Area designated by the Iowa DNR. Access to Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area is on a Level B "dirt" road.
Old Town Conservation Area
4 mi. southeast of Missouri Valley
This 341-acre area lies in the Loess Hills adjacent to the National Park Service (NPS) identified Loveland Special Landscape Area (SLA). The Old Town Conservation Area features a restored prairie and bur oak savannah. A network of hiking trails, scenic vistas and abundant populations of deer and turkey provide a variety of public recreation opportunities. It is also an excellent location for bird watching for migrant species such as dickcissels and warblers.
Loess Hills State Forest - Little Sioux, Pisgah, and Mondamin Units
northwestern Harrison County
The Little Sioux Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest, 3,627 acres, lies between the towns of Little Sioux and Pisgah. The Pisgah Unit, 2,549 acres, is located east of Pisgah. This Unit is the site of the forest headquarters, which was built on a 3 acre lot donated to the Iowa DNR by the Town of Pisgah in 1989. The headquarters and visitors center is located two blocks west of State Highway 183, at 206 Polk Street. The Mondamin Unit, 1,096 acres, is east of the Town of Mondamin, 3 miles on Highway 127.
The entire forest is open to hunting except for areas within 200 yards of residences and the headquarters area. The entire forest is also open to hiking, nature study, and cross country skiing. There is good all weather and dirt road accessibility to the forest area's 34 parking lots.
Biking
Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills in Harrison County.
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