Monona County offers different ways to explore nature and history: from hikes in the Loess Hills and the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition to architecture and exhibits in Onawa. When choosing destinations for your trip, it helps to distinguish between different types of places: county-managed natural areas, a state forest, and a state park offer different experiences. The historical connections also range from finds dating back thousands of years to buildings from the 20th century.
Natural Attractions in the Loess Hills
Monona County Conservation manages 17 parks, natural areas, preserves, and access points for water recreation throughout the county. Together, they cover about 1,000 acres. A larger landscape area is the Loess Hills State Forest: it spans 11,484 acres and consists of four units in Harrison and Monona counties.
Preparation Canyon State Park lies in the heart of the Loess Hills, covers 344 acres, and offers backcountry hiking. It is distinct from the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest. This unit covers 4,068 acres and has a small fishing lake as well as numerous trails. These details can help you choose based on what you’re looking for: the state park is described in terms of its size and hiking, while the forest unit adds a lake and more trails to the options.
The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway is also useful for getting oriented in the region: in Monona County, it includes the Wilderness Loop. Alongside the individual natural areas, byway-related names can help you explore the landscape and its different areas.
Lewis and Clark: Boats, Campsite, and Festival
The Lewis and Clark State Park visitor center features life-size replicas of watercraft used by the expedition: a keelboat, two pirogues, the iron boat, a dugout canoe, and a bull boat. The collection showcases several types of boats rather than just one, bringing a specific part of the expedition’s history to life. A campsite of the Lewis and Clark expedition is associated with August 9, 1804.
The Lewis and Clark Festival takes place every June at Lewis and Clark State Park. If you’d like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific festival dates in advance. The annual event is held in June, but you’ll still need to check the dates for the year you plan to visit.
Onawa and the County’s Cultural History
Onawa offers several distinct aspects of cultural heritage. The Onawa Public Library is an exceptionally well-designed example of early 20th-century library architecture. The Onawa IOOF Opera House is the city’s building most closely associated with live theater. Together, the two buildings offer different perspectives on architecture and theater culture.
The Monona County Historical Museum displays artifacts from the 19th and 20th centuries. Its exhibits include one about Eskimo Pie, which was invented in Onawa. The Turin Man Archaeological Site is associated with human remains that are 6,000 years old and were found in 1955. These finds reach far back into the past, while the museum and buildings shed light on more recent chapters of regional history. The Monona County Fair is also one of the annual events held in Onawa.
Which Highlights Suit Your Trip?
For nature enthusiasts, comparing the state park and forest unit offers a practical way to choose: Preparation Canyon State Park is noted for backcountry hiking, while the Preparation Canyon Unit of the state forest combines numerous trails with a small fishing lake. Those more interested in cultural history can explore architecture, theater, museum artifacts, and the legacy of Lewis and Clark. The time periods represented range from the finds associated with the Turin Man Archaeological Site and the year 1804 to exhibits from the 19th and 20th centuries. This makes it possible to choose what to explore in Monona County based on your interests, without treating its different places and their distinct highlights as interchangeable.
Discover more destinations: Onawa, Iowa County, Jasper County, Grundy County, Story, Wapello, Fayette County, Bremer County.
For the broader travel overview: Iowa.
