Loess Hills Scenic Byway

Byway Details

Designation

National Scenic Byway

Length

223 mi in Iowa

About Loess Hills Scenic Byway

Loess Hills Scenic Byway is a 223.3-mile drive in western Iowa that holds three designations: National Scenic Byway, Iowa State Scenic Byway, and National Natural Landmark Area. The route links a long string of communities, among them Akron, Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff, Smithland, Castana, Moorhead, Pisgah, Magnolia, Logan, Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Tabor, Thurman and Hamburg. That gives drivers plenty of places to start, stop or break the trip into shorter segments. For timing, typical averages from the Hawarden, Iowa weather station, about 12 miles away, favor late spring through early fall. May brings highs around 71°F and lows near 47°F, though it is also the wettest month, with about 11 days of precipitation. June through August run warm, with highs in the low to mid 80s and lows around 60°F. September is milder at about 76°F by day and 50°F at night. By October, highs drop to the low 60s and lows to the mid 30s. Winter is cold, with January averaging a high of 27°F and a low of 7°F and about four snowy days a month from December through February. Snow can still fall in March and occasionally in April. Several short hikes sit within a third of a mile of the route, including Foothills Trail, Fox Run, Whitetail Ridge and Turtle Lake. They make easy additions for anyone who wants to step out of the car along the way.