Howard County: Discover Prairies, Trails, and Culture

Prairie landscapes, water, and historic places offer different reasons to visit Howard County. Hayden Prairie is known for its expansive landscape, while Lake Hendricks Park brings together a man-made lake, a beach, and a nature trail. In Cresco, architecture, art, and sports history shape the cultural offerings; trails and river access provide more options for active days. When looking for a vacation rental, your main interests are a good place to start: Should the trip focus primarily on nature, outdoor activities, or culture?

Prairie, Lake, and River

Outside the Loess Hills, Hayden Prairie is Iowa’s largest prairie; more than 200 plant species grow there. Crossman Prairie offers a different scale: this 10-acre protected area preserves a remnant of tallgrass prairie and provides habitat for more than 120 plant species. Together, the two areas show prairie as both an expansive landscape and a preserved stand of tallgrass.

Lake Hendricks Park features a 54-acre man-made lake. A 150-foot-long beach is designated for unsupervised swimming. There is also a 0.4-mile self-guided nature trail. This means you can enjoy water and a short walk at your own pace in one park, without the need for a guided tour. Check the published swimming information again before your visit.

Canoeists set out from Lidtke Park for trips on the Upper Iowa River. Lidtke Mill tells another chapter of the area’s story: it was built in 1857 as a water-powered sawmill. The Lidtke Mill Complex is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day. Since these hours are seasonal, it’s a good idea to check them again before you go.

Trails for Different Kinds of Trips

The Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail offers several specific reference points. Its southern section runs for more than 12 miles through Howard County, reaching the city limits of Elma. The trailhead is in Riceville at 110 East Main Street, near U.S. Highway 9. The trail crosses the Wapsipinicon River, Watson’s Creek, and Lake Hendricks.

In Elma, the current section of the Old Roundhouse Trail runs 5.3 miles from Elma to Acme and along the edge of Lylah’s Marsh and Park. The trailhead and Welcome Center are in the northern depot area, near the covered bridge in the center of town on Busti Avenue. These details provide a different point of reference from the more than 12 miles of the southern Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail: they refer to different trails and sections. Old Roundhouse Trail Days celebrates Elma’s railroad history with a weekend of music, food, and community entertainment.

The season also changes the character of the trails. Prairie Springs Nature Center, south of Cresco, has 10 kilometers of cross-country ski trails and 5 kilometers of snowshoe trails; trail grooming is seasonal. If you’re planning a stay focused mainly on outdoor activities, you can weigh these winter trails against the very different trail and water options.

Cresco: Architecture, Art, and History

Several of the cultural sites described here are in Cresco. The Kellow House was built in 1880 in the Second Empire style and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Howard County Courthouse, also built in 1880, was added to the Register in 1981. Their shared construction year and different listing years offer a specific point of comparison, while the Second Empire style provides a more precise architectural description of the Kellow House.

The Cresco Theatre was built in 1914 and opened with live entertainment in 1915. The Cresco Welcome Center is also home to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, the only museum dedicated to Iowans who have contributed to amateur wrestling. Outside the Welcome Center, a 40-foot-high mural commemorates wrestling in Cresco and Iowa. The Center offers maps, brochures, tours, and visitor information for Cresco, Howard County, northeast Iowa, and southeast Minnesota.

The Norman Borlaug Boyhood Farm is now home to a Sears kit house, a barn built in 1927, and the New Oregon #8 School. The farm is open to visitors without set hours; if you’re planning a tour, check the arrangements in advance. The Cresco Fine Arts Show takes place on the first Sunday in August each year and is one of Iowa’s longest-running outdoor art shows. Check the current event details when planning your trip.

Whether you’re looking for a vacation rental for days spent exploring prairies and trails or for cultural discoveries, Howard County offers different ways to plan your visit. The places and activities mentioned here can help you shape your stay around the interests that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Allamakee County, Audubon, Marion County, Jasper County, Fremont County, Sioux County.

See the main travel overview: Iowa.