Overview
Welcome to Mills County. On the southern portion of the Byway, Mills County boasts breathtaking scenery and areas of preserved American Indian history. The Indian Earth Lodge is a "must-stop" area, as well as Pony Creek Park, Mile Hill Lake, Foothills Park, Kings Crossing Vineyard and Winery and the Indian Creek Museum.
Mills County is home to the Pony Creek and Waubonsie Excursion Loops.
Directions
Enter Mills County on County Road L35, also called 221st Street. When the Byway enters the county, you leave the valley of the Missouri River and travel through the range's western front to Glenwood, where the Byway becomes Locust Street. Continue south through Glenwood until you reach U.S. 34. Head east on U.S. 34 for a bit more than 4 miles.
Upon meeting U.S. 275, turn right (south) and follow the highway to the county's southern border, about 9 miles away.
Pony Creek Excursion Loop
This 9-mile route starts about 5 miles north of downtown Glenwood by leaving 221st Street at Deacon Avenue and then rambles through the Loess Hills to the west and south. Along the way, you meet Pony Creek Park. Afterward, you come to U.S. 34 which you take to the east to rejoin the Byway just south of Glenwood. Allow about 18 minutes drive time on part paved and part graveled surfaces.
Waubonsie Excursion Loop
This 12-mile route starts where County Road L45 (also called Levi Road) takes you south from U.S. 34 just southeast of Glenwood to go along the base of the Hills and then into the Hills. Expect lots of turns.
About 8 miles from the start of this route, turn left (east) onto Quandt Road, another road that winds around for almost 3 more miles before you rejoin County Road L45.
At County Road L45, turn left (east) and follow County Road L45 for 1.5 miles to meet the Byway's Spine at US. 275 about a mile north of Tabor.
Along the way is the picturesque countryside Waubonsie Church. Allow 30 minutes drive time on paved and graveled surfaces.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Mills County.
Communities along the byway in Mills County include:
Hiking
Folsom Point Preserve
south of Council Bluffs
Folsom Point Prairie protects one of the largest remaining contiguous prairie remnants in the southern Loess Hills. Purchased by The Nature Conservancy in 1999, the prairie provides a valuable habitat for grassland animals, particularly in an area where the prairie community has largely disappeared.
Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve
Highways 34 & L45, Glenwood
There are 107 recorded archaeological sites in the Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve, ranging from about 10,000 years in age to the early Euro-American settlement era, 150 years ago. Most significant are 27 earth lodge sites in the preserve that are related to the Glenwood Culture, also known as the Nebraska phase of the Central Plains tradition. Only a small fraction of the preserve has been archaeologically surveyed, so many more sites probably exist in the preserve. The preserve is a low impact recreation area, meaning that no public activity can impair the integrity of the site. The site hosts multi-use trails ready for running, hiking, biking and wildlife observation. Aside from the archaeological sites within the property, one can also find forest, oak savanna, native prairie, restored prairie and agricultural grounds on the site.
West Oak Forest
Four miles north of Pacific Junction on L-31
The 308 acre area of Loess Hills bluffland is adjacent to and overlooking the broad Missouri River floodplain. This is the second largest park within the Mills County Conservation Board’s park system. At 308 acres, it consists of forest, numerous hilltop prairie remnants, 7-acres of restored prairie, and well over 3 miles of hiking trails. On the lower south trail, you will find the "Prairie in the Loess Hills" interpretive panel with information about Iowa’s Loess Hills and native prairie. Work is presently underway to restore part of the park to an Oak Savanna. West Oak Forest is inhabited by many threatened and endangered species of the Loess Hills, including the Yucca Moth, Western Spadefoot Toad, Ottoe Skipper, Northern Grasshopper Mouse and various others.
Pony Creek Park
56235 Deacon Road, Pacific Junction
This 53-acre park offers camping, a playground, 2 picnic shelters, 3 pit latrines, and an interpretive center. There are hiking trails within the park as well as a scenic overlook platform. The park also has 1.5 acres of restored prairie as well as 4-acres ofnative prairie. During fall, a wonderful image is painted upon the canvas of treetops across the lake from the park.
Mile Hill Lake
21193 Highway 34, Glenwood
This 39-acre park consists of a hardwood forest, which is open to public hunting, and a10-acre fishing lake with boat dock and ramp. The lake is considered a No Wake Zone and is closed to swimming. When driving into the park you will find an interpretive panel discussing the prehistoric culture that lived in this region, and the handicap accessible Scenic Overlook,which offers an interpretive panel discussing the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. You will also see a2 acre restored prairie, and several flowerbeds which are maintained by the Mills County Co-Horts. There are various hiking trails within the park, including the most recent addition that leads through a marsh area, with a newly installed footbridge.
Biking
The Wabash Trace passes through Mills County. Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills. Residents are working to implement a countywide trail plan.
Welcome to Mills County. On the southern portion of the Byway, Mills County boasts breathtaking scenery and areas of preserved American Indian history. The Indian Earth Lodge is a "must-stop" area, as well as Pony Creek Park, Mile Hill Lake, Foothills Park, Kings Crossing Vineyard and Winery and the Indian Creek Museum.
Mills County is home to the Pony Creek and Waubonsie Excursion Loops.
Directions
Enter Mills County on County Road L35, also called 221st Street. When the Byway enters the county, you leave the valley of the Missouri River and travel through the range's western front to Glenwood, where the Byway becomes Locust Street. Continue south through Glenwood until you reach U.S. 34. Head east on U.S. 34 for a bit more than 4 miles.
Upon meeting U.S. 275, turn right (south) and follow the highway to the county's southern border, about 9 miles away.
Pony Creek Excursion Loop
This 9-mile route starts about 5 miles north of downtown Glenwood by leaving 221st Street at Deacon Avenue and then rambles through the Loess Hills to the west and south. Along the way, you meet Pony Creek Park. Afterward, you come to U.S. 34 which you take to the east to rejoin the Byway just south of Glenwood. Allow about 18 minutes drive time on part paved and part graveled surfaces.
Waubonsie Excursion Loop
This 12-mile route starts where County Road L45 (also called Levi Road) takes you south from U.S. 34 just southeast of Glenwood to go along the base of the Hills and then into the Hills. Expect lots of turns.
About 8 miles from the start of this route, turn left (east) onto Quandt Road, another road that winds around for almost 3 more miles before you rejoin County Road L45.
At County Road L45, turn left (east) and follow County Road L45 for 1.5 miles to meet the Byway's Spine at US. 275 about a mile north of Tabor.
Along the way is the picturesque countryside Waubonsie Church. Allow 30 minutes drive time on paved and graveled surfaces.
Attractions
Visit our page on Travel Iowa's website to learn more about attractions and amenities in Mills County.
Communities along the byway in Mills County include:
Hiking
Folsom Point Preserve
south of Council Bluffs
Folsom Point Prairie protects one of the largest remaining contiguous prairie remnants in the southern Loess Hills. Purchased by The Nature Conservancy in 1999, the prairie provides a valuable habitat for grassland animals, particularly in an area where the prairie community has largely disappeared.
Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve
Highways 34 & L45, Glenwood
There are 107 recorded archaeological sites in the Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve, ranging from about 10,000 years in age to the early Euro-American settlement era, 150 years ago. Most significant are 27 earth lodge sites in the preserve that are related to the Glenwood Culture, also known as the Nebraska phase of the Central Plains tradition. Only a small fraction of the preserve has been archaeologically surveyed, so many more sites probably exist in the preserve. The preserve is a low impact recreation area, meaning that no public activity can impair the integrity of the site. The site hosts multi-use trails ready for running, hiking, biking and wildlife observation. Aside from the archaeological sites within the property, one can also find forest, oak savanna, native prairie, restored prairie and agricultural grounds on the site.
West Oak Forest
Four miles north of Pacific Junction on L-31
The 308 acre area of Loess Hills bluffland is adjacent to and overlooking the broad Missouri River floodplain. This is the second largest park within the Mills County Conservation Board’s park system. At 308 acres, it consists of forest, numerous hilltop prairie remnants, 7-acres of restored prairie, and well over 3 miles of hiking trails. On the lower south trail, you will find the "Prairie in the Loess Hills" interpretive panel with information about Iowa’s Loess Hills and native prairie. Work is presently underway to restore part of the park to an Oak Savanna. West Oak Forest is inhabited by many threatened and endangered species of the Loess Hills, including the Yucca Moth, Western Spadefoot Toad, Ottoe Skipper, Northern Grasshopper Mouse and various others.
Pony Creek Park
56235 Deacon Road, Pacific Junction
This 53-acre park offers camping, a playground, 2 picnic shelters, 3 pit latrines, and an interpretive center. There are hiking trails within the park as well as a scenic overlook platform. The park also has 1.5 acres of restored prairie as well as 4-acres ofnative prairie. During fall, a wonderful image is painted upon the canvas of treetops across the lake from the park.
Mile Hill Lake
21193 Highway 34, Glenwood
This 39-acre park consists of a hardwood forest, which is open to public hunting, and a10-acre fishing lake with boat dock and ramp. The lake is considered a No Wake Zone and is closed to swimming. When driving into the park you will find an interpretive panel discussing the prehistoric culture that lived in this region, and the handicap accessible Scenic Overlook,which offers an interpretive panel discussing the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. You will also see a2 acre restored prairie, and several flowerbeds which are maintained by the Mills County Co-Horts. There are various hiking trails within the park, including the most recent addition that leads through a marsh area, with a newly installed footbridge.
Biking
The Wabash Trace passes through Mills County. Several on-road routes are available through the Loess Hills. Residents are working to implement a countywide trail plan.
map
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