3 Breathtaking Iowa Views Anyone Can Reach (No Expert Hiking Needed)

If I’m being honest with you, I’m not one for a big hike. Unless there’s a major payoff, and I can only count those I've deemed worth it on one hand. The main reason is that I hate to carry a backpack, so I’d better be able to get by with a sandwich and a granola bar stuffed in my pocket. But I do love wild and rugged terrain with epic views, so sometimes I have to settle for a sneaky, short, and easy trail with bucket list views in Iowa. These are a few spots I’ve found worth returning to.

1. Squire Point - North Liberty

Growing up in this neck of the woods, my dad taught me to appreciate the wonders of the Iowa River, often from the banks with a bucket of worms and a fishing pole. We rarely came near the city and were more likely to follow a deer path than a hiking trail. But I wanted to show my own kids the river in my own way, and without my dad’s heels to follow, I’d surely get lost. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), my kids echo the sentiment that hiking needs a big payoff or they won’t go. So I had to find a hike with a bluff, on a marked trail, preferably within shouting distance of Iowa City. And this one did the trick. Squire Point is a 1.4-mile loop that dips through a densely wooded forest between neighborhoods and the Iowa River before opening up to dramatic bluff-top views of the Coraville Reservoir. It’s easy and scenic, with ample opportunities to see wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, bald eagles, and songbirds.

2. Hitchcock Nature Center - Honey Creek

When looking for more bucket list views in Iowa, it didn’t take long to stumble across the Loess Hills as a top recommendation for incredible vistas. But it’s also known for some of the hardest, steepest, longest trails in Iowa. Over the years, I’ve learned the best way to avoid challenging hikes is to visit nature centers. Usually, they are better catered to all ability levels and will offer at least one option for an overlook or an easy, looping trail. My favorite spot for both in the Loess Hills is at the Hitchcock Nature Center, about 15 miles north of Council Bluffs. The Dozer Cut and Fox Run Ridge Trail offers an easy 1.7-mile dirt trail with a sloping incline. Rather than a loop, it’s an out-and-back trail, heading out on Dozer Cut and back in on Fox Run Ridge. If you prefer no hike at all, head into the lodge and climb the Hawk Tower, a wide, stable 45-foot tower that offers panoramic views of the same trail and the surrounding Loess Hills. 

3. Motor Mill Historic Site - Elkader

Beyond the Iowa River and the Loess Hills, my next-most-visited nature area in Iowa is the Turkey River Corridor within the Driftless Area. It’s the ideal mix of the bluffs, woodlands, and scenic waterways. The region also boasts some of Iowa’s best parks, views, and hiking trails. But I defer to the lesser-known and have become enamored with the Turkey River for its quiet, slower pace and low-key adventure. To me, the most bucket list views in Iowa are here, on the river, in a canoe. Canoeing is a great way to avoid big hikes, but if water trails aren’t your thing either, you will surely appreciate the views from the Motor Mill Historic Site near the charming town of Elkader. No hike required, and it’s worth booking a tour to go inside and see the Turkey River from the fifth or sixth-floor attic. Even just standing on the Motor Mill Bridge, though, is quite impressive and an iconic Iowa experience, if you ask me.

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