Mitchell County: Nature, Trails and History

Mitchell County combines expansive natural areas, river trails and insights into Iowa’s history. The Mitchell County Conservation Board manages more than 3,000 acres of wildlife habitat. These include rivers, streams, wetlands, floodplain forests, upland forests, oak savannas and native prairie. The public is invited to use these conservation areas for nature experiences and recreation. When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred travel focus: extensive trail routes, water activities, wildlife observation or historical discoveries.

Trails through Prairie, Forest and River Landscapes

The Cedar River Greenbelt Trail offers a particularly varied combination of activity and scenery. It extends for more than 8 miles from the Milton R. Owen Nature Center to Mitchell Mill Dam and Interstate Park. There are four separate park areas along the trail. The route passes through native prairie, oak savanna, river bluffs, river lowlands and upland river landscapes. Travelers who would like to include a longer route in their trip planning will find the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail, a 23.5-mile route. It includes an 18.5-mile north branch and five completed miles of the south branch and is suitable for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and wildlife observation. The trailhead is located in Riceville at U.S. Highway 9.

Several different trail systems are available for shorter trail experiences. The New Haven Potholes Trail System includes a 3.5-mile loop. Several observation decks provide vantage points for wildlife viewing; at the same time, the area is closed to hunting year-round. The Hamlin Garland Trail System offers almost 2 miles of trails and is groomed in winter for hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing. The Pinicon Alders Trail System combines paved trails, grass trails and groomed winter trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and fat biking. A suspension bridge crosses the Wapsi Pinicon River there.

Water Experiences on the Cedar River

The Cedar River Water Trail runs for approximately 30 miles through Mitchell County and is divided into six main sections. Along the route, designated access points are located approximately one and a half to two hours apart. Paddling, floating and wading are permitted on the Water Trail. Camping on sandbars and unauthorized entry are not permitted. The Cedar River at Interstate Park offers opportunities for boating, water skiing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. A large swimming beach with a dock and two playgrounds add to the park’s amenities. Depending on your preferred vacation pace, you can choose a vacation rental as a base for active days on the water or for a combination of river, trails and wildlife observation.

Wildlife Observation and Distinctive Landscapes

The Milton R. Owen Nature Center offers interactive environmental education exhibits and public programs. It also displays wildlife specimens and has an observation area at a bird-feeding station. The trails at the Nature Center are suitable for hiking, cycling and wildlife observation. Other distinctive landscapes can be explored via the Wyatt Fen Trail System, which covers just over 1.10 miles through wetlands with a bog-like character, and the Rock Creek Trail System, which covers just under 2 miles through prairie, wetlands and forested areas along Rock Creek. The Boerjan Trail System is just over 1.25 miles long and runs along Turtle Creek, a river suitable for trout fishing.

History in Buildings, Workshops and Sites

Cedar Valley Memories presents steam engines, historic machinery, as well as early agricultural equipment and tools that illustrate Iowa’s cultural heritage. Visitors can tour several buildings on the grounds. The Living Heritage Workshops showcase equipment and crafts from the past. During the Cedar Valley Memories event, the buildings are opened, and exhibits and engines are operated for visitors. The “Step Back in Time” event takes place on the second full weekend in August.

Individual historic structures also offer distinctive points of interest. The Boerjan Log House is a local log cabin believed to have been built by the Gilbertsons in the late 1850s. Docken Log Cabin was built in Cedar Township in 1857 and shares its location in Meroa with Walnut Grove School. Fort Severson was built from local limestone and timber from the surrounding forests and has been preserved since the mid-1850s. The listing of Fort Severson on the National Register was officially approved in July 1976. Mitchell Mill Dam and the hydroelectric facility at Interstate Park are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mapletown Manor is an Italianate mansion built shortly after the American Civil War; it is located one block from Historic Main Street in Osage.

A Suitable Base for Different Types of Travel Days

Mitchell County is well suited to trip planning that does not view nature and culture separately. Longer trails such as the Cedar River Greenbelt Trail or the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail appeal to travelers who want to plan longer distances for hiking, cycling or wildlife observation. Shorter trail systems, observation decks, the Nature Center and historic buildings offer other focal points. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, travelers can therefore use their preferred activities and desired daily itinerary as a guide without having to commit to just one type of experience.

Other destinations at this level: Cherokee County, Mahaska County, Hancock County, O'brien County, Winnebago County, Monona County, Buena Vista County.

To the higher-level travel overview: Iowa.