Prairie, water, trails, and local history give Howard County a variety of travel highlights. You can make natural areas, trails, or historic places the focus of your visit. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing seasonal opening hours and event dates from the landscapes and trails that offer a different kind of visit.
Prairies and Plant Life
Hayden Prairie State Preserve is Iowa’s largest prairie outside the Loess Hills. More than 200 plant species grow there. Crossman Prairie offers a smaller, clearly defined natural area: The preserve covers 10 acres and protects a remnant of tallgrass prairie in Howard County. It provides habitat for more than 120 plant species. The two prairies therefore represent different scales—from the largest prairie outside the Loess Hills to a protected tallgrass remnant.
Trails and Paths
The Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail crosses the Wapsipinicon River, Watson's Creek, and Lake Hendricks. Its southern section runs for more than 12 miles through Howard County to the city limits of Elma. In Riceville, there is a trailhead at 110 East Main Street, near U.S. Highway 9. The Old Roundhouse Trail offers a different distance: Its current section runs for 5.3 miles from Elma to Acme and along the edge of Lylah's Marsh and Park. Trail distances may change. In Elma, the trailhead and Welcome Center are in the northern depot area, near the covered bridge in the town center on Busti Avenue.
Shorter and seasonal paths are also part of the offerings. The Prairie Springs Recreational Trail runs for 3.5 miles on a paved path from downtown Cresco at Balk Park to Vernon Springs; local access conditions may change. South of Cresco, Prairie Springs Nature Center offers 10 kilometers of cross-country ski trails and 5 kilometers of snowshoe trails. Grooming is seasonal. The Nature Center’s programs focus on insects, trees, and wildflowers.
Water and Outdoor Activities
Lake Hendricks Park includes a 54-acre artificial lake, a 150-foot beach for unsupervised swimming, and a 0.4-mile self-guided nature trail. Check the published swimming details before your trip. Lidtke Park serves as a starting point for canoe trips on the Upper Iowa River. Vernon Springs Park is home to Iowa’s first Rock Arch Rapids, with pools and rapids stretching more than 280 feet. Each offers its own experience: a nature trail, canoe trips, or distinctive pools and rapids.
History and Culture in Cresco and the Surrounding Area
Cresco’s architecture tells the story of its history through several buildings. The Kellow House was built in the Second Empire style in 1880 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Howard County Courthouse also dates to 1880; it was added to the Register in 1981. The Cresco Theatre was built in 1914 and opened with live entertainment in 1915.
The Cresco Welcome Center combines visitor information with a distinctive cultural theme. It is home to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, the only museum honoring Iowans who have contributed to amateur wrestling. In front of the Welcome Center stands a 40-foot mural dedicated to wrestling in Cresco and Iowa. The Center offers maps, brochures, tours, and visitor information for Cresco, Howard County, northeastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota.
The Norman Borlaug Boyhood Farm also offers a glimpse into history: The grounds include a Sears kit house, a barn built in 1927, and New Oregon #8 School. The Norman Borlaug farms are open to visitors without set hours; confirm arrangements for guided tours. Lidtke Mill was built in 1857 as a water-powered sawmill. The Lidtke Mill Complex is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check the hours before your visit.
Seasonal Events
Specific dates are part of planning a trip around culture and events. The Cresco Fine Arts Show takes place every year on the first Sunday in August and is one of Iowa’s longest-running outdoor art shows; check dates and program details in advance. The Cresco Speedway regularly holds stock car races in summer, from May through September. Since race schedules may change, check the specific dates before your visit. Old Roundhouse Trail Days is a weekend of music, food, and entertainment that celebrates Elma’s railroad history.
Explore more destinations: Cresco, Riceville, Calhoun County, Cedar, Madison County, Page County, Worth County, Des Moines County.
For the broader travel overview: Iowa.
