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Howard County Stumpjumpers

City of Riceville

Howard County Stumpjumpers was established in 1975 and grooms over 200 miles of snowmobile trails.

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Lidtke Mill Park

3245 Oak Ave, Lime Springs, IA 52155

The natural beauty found along the twists and turns of the Upper Iowa River is filled with diverse wildlife, limestone bluffs, chimney rocks, forested areas, cold water springs and more. This unique river was nominated to be one of the First National Wild and Scenic Rivers with the Department of …

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Prairie Grass in breeze

Taylor’s Pond

43.2541166, -92.1155991

Taylor’s Pond, located a mile west and two miles north of Protivin, contains a four acre pond, a shelter and picnic facilities. This is a popular spot to take your family fishing.

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Prairie Grass in breeze

Hayden Prairie State Preserve

5280 Ivy Ave, Chester, IA 52134

Hayden Prairie State Preserve is 240 acres of tall grass prairie, the largest in eastern Iowa, and managed by the DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. This natural prairie is an attraction for a variety of wildlife, birds, and wildflowers. Hayden Prairie is named after Dr. Ada Hayden, a former professor of botany …

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Lake Hendricks

9850 Addison Ave, Riceville, IA 50466

A 234-acre park to experience nature at its finest. Experience nature while walking one of the many trails, visiting the deer pen, sitting at the butterfly garden, fishing, or swimming in the lake! One of the oldest parks in the county conservation board system, it is also the largest and …

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Prairie’s Edge Nature Center

11562 Valley Avenue Cresco, IA, 52136

Cresco’s most recent addition to the community was the Prairie’s Edge Nature Center at Vernon Springs. The Nature Center is managed by the Howard County Conservation and Naturalist. They have a wide selection of programs from insects and trees to wildflowers. Hours Monday – Friday: 8AM – Noon & 1PM …

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Old Roundhouse Trail

Busti Ave, Elma, IA 50628, USA

The Old Roundhouse Trail is a portion of the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail, soon to be connected to the trail of the same name stretching north through Howard and Mitchell counties. The current Old Roundhouse Trail portion is 5.3 miles from Elma proper to Acme. The trail is being extended …

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Prairie Springs Recreation Trail

101 2nd Ave SW, Cresco, IA, 52136

Truly a trail for all seasons, the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail (PSRT) is 3.5 miles of paved access from downtown Cresco at Balk Park to Vernon Springs along the Prairie’s Edge Nature Center next to the Turkey River Campground. Breathtaking beauty and glorious displays of nature can be seen the …

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Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

110 E Main St Riceville, IA

The Wapsi-Great Western Line (WGWL) Trail is a 23.5 mile paved rural escape with a Northern Branch of 18.5 miles and a Southern Branch of 5 completed miles. The Trailhead is located in Riceville, nestled in northern Iowa off U.S. Highway 9. The majority of the trail runs on abandoned …

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Vernon Springs Park

11562 Valley Ave Cresco, Iowa

Take a walk (and maybe a fishing pole) on Iowa’s first Rock Arch Rapids. Located on the Vernon Springs Mill Pond, this innovative fish ladder replaced a 150-year-old spill-water dam reconnecting hundreds of miles of river habitat. Over 280 feet of pools and rapids showcase this stunning new recreation area …

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