Preparation Canyon: Solitude in Iowa’s Loess Hills

Once the site of a frontier town, this state park

Trail Preparation Canyon State Park offers backcountry hiking and primitive camping in Western Iowa.

Overview
Canyons in Iowa? Well, that may be a stretch. But there are definitely steep valleys in this region of the state’s Loess Hills. Preparation Canyon State Park comprises 344 acres of forested hills and prairie ridges in a remote region of western Iowa. The name stems from the now lost town of Preparation, an 1850s Mormon settlement. About four miles of trails wind through the park. In addition to trails, Preparation Canyon features 10 primitive camping sites. Travel time to this area borders on four hours, so it’s probably best to view it as an overnight option.

• Length Four miles total.

• Address and location 340th St, Moorhead, Iowa 51558

• Conditions
  Trails are natural surface and are generally well marked and maintained. There is significant elevation gain and precipitation will make the surface unstable.

• Kid friendly? This trail is for hearty children.

• How busy? This area is rural and remote. However, it is about one hour from the Omaha/Council Bluffs area and can have moderate traffic in peak season.

• Pets Yes, on a leash.

• Bikes Yes, unless posted otherwise.

• Official website

Other area attractions include:

• Brent’s Trail, near Little Sioux Iowa

• Waubonsie State Park, near Hamburg, Iowa

• Hitchcock Nature Center, near Council Bluffs, Iowa

• Indian Cave State Park (Shubert, Neb.).

• Arbor Day Farm is a family-oriented park (paid admission required) in Nebraska City, Neb. Lied Lodge, also in Nebraska City, is a unique, nature-oriented hotel.

• Nebraska City is also home to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitors Center (paid admission) and Arbor Lodge State Historical Park (paid admission).

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