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    Waubonsie State Park

    4.0 (12 reviews)

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    View from the top of the hiking trail overlooking trees and farmland below
    Rachel L.

    It was a gorgeous Saturday a couple of weeks ago so I decided to make the quick drive up I-29 and spend the afternoon at Waubonsie State Park. I have always been pleased with Iowa's State Parks, however this time it was not the case. I love to hike and was disappointed to find that most of the trails were overgrown and covered in spider webs. The area was very buggy and tick season was in high force so bug spray is a must if you plan to go this time of year. Not only were the trails poorly kept up, but the restroom facilities were as well. They were filled with bugs and webs making using the restroom a terrifying process! While the views of this state park were beautiful, I won't be going out of my way to go back anytime soon.

    On one of the trails, sweeping views of Iowa farmland.
    Erin O.

    Waubonsie is a sweet little gem of a park set amidst Iowa's great Loess Hills. My husband and I planned a day trip down south, with Waubonsie as our first stop. The park is a little over an hour south of Council Bluffs, conveniently located to the east 5 miles off I-29. The park is free. Thanks to online guidance, we found where the trails with a view were and parked accordingly. The trail we hiked was about 2-3 miles roundtrip, with stunning views. One solid piece of the trail ran alongside the hill. Bring your camera and prepare to snap away. Admire nature and all the butterflies, birds and more. Pack a lunch, if you like; there are plenty of areas to comfortably eat. Word of advice: be wary of ticks. After arriving home, we discovered these little surprises. Clothe appropriately!

    Overlook Area

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    All of the cabins are run down and no on-site park ranger. Very sad the State of Iowa has let this happen.

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Good park with a great view at the overlook! We enjoyed hiking and being outdoors here.

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    4 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Waubonsie State Park

    Review Highlights - Waubonsie State Park

    We had cabin #4 which at one time was part of a Girl Scout camp that got added to the existing park in the Loess Hills.

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    Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

    Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

    4.5(18 reviews)
    46.7 mi

    To Everyone reading - This location should definitely receive more love and appreciation for its…read morebeautiful views! After living for 8 years in Kansas City, this was the year I actually got to know about it and I had to immediately visit. Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge has a 10-mile one-way auto route to see the stunning views from different angles, which is absolutely breathtaking. There are also sections for viewing eagles, then snow geese, and many more spots along the way. The refuge area is well kept and very peaceful. The auto loop is really useful because hiking the whole area would honestly take a very long time, so the loop sections make it easy and educational to explore. The stops are clearly marked and there are many pit stops where people can take photos or simply enjoy the wildlife. I was very lucky to see thousands of snow geese along with one bald eagle. I also saw white swans, ducks, and our regular city geese just chilling out there haha. March is the main time to see migratory snow geese. I have also heard that from December to January there is a bald eagle season where people can see thousands in a day only if you are lucky and I honestly can't wait to revisit... Overall, I loved how calm the drive felt with the open land and skies, and so many different types of birds. Whether you are a birdwatcher or not, you will definitely enjoy this place. Amazing spot to just relax and unwind. Note: Bring food and water since the loop takes some time to complete if you stop at each section to enjoy the views. Also bring binoculars or a zoom lens camera if you want to see the birds up close.

    I'm going to be real and say my review for this is quite incomplete, but I still want to put…read moresomething out there. I was taking work calls as I cruised down the highway and decided to venture over here to see what it was all about, and hopefully see an eagle or two. So the reason I say it's incomplete is I was on that work call and didn't really stop, get out, get the lay of the land, or even know what I was looking at. I sort of just started driving where the road led me and did a big loop around the lake. I saw swans, and some massive gaggle of smaller white birds, but can't say what they were. It was nice, although sometimes I got stuck behind someone going 1 mph. Next time I will be a bit more intentional and read up on it, hike a bit, and be more single-minded. It's definitely a cool spot and I know the migratory birds often set up here late in the winter, so that would be a fun time to get out and see it.

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    Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
    Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
    Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

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    Waubonsie State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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