Union County: Discover History, Lakes, and Trails

Union County combines significant history with a diverse landscape of lakes and trails. Here, you can learn about the historic traces of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, view murals and a depot listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Creston, or plan your days around several lakes. When searching for a suitable vacation rental, the key question is therefore which experiences you want to make the focus of your trip.

Historic Sites and Special Experiences

Mount Pisgah was established in 1846 by the vanguard group of the Latter-day Saints as a provisional village or way station to support emigrants in need. Today, Mount Pisgah is a certified historic site on the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. The history of this place gives a trip through Union County a clear historical dimension and makes it suitable as a focus for anyone who wants to combine landscape and culture.

The Union County Historical Village also tells the story of the region. It began in 1966, when the County Schoolhouse Lincoln Township #5 was moved to McKinley Park. The Village includes 16 buildings with numerous indoor exhibits. In Creston, Uptown adds further colorful accents with more than 30 murals. The Restored Depot was built in 1899 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those interested in architecture, local development, and engaging cultural experiences will find several different ways to explore the region’s past.

Creston and Time-Specific Highlights

A specific date adds another highlight to the events calendar: Creston will host the 48th annual Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days from September 17 to 20, 2026. This date may be relevant to your personal travel planning if you want to combine your stay with a special event. On the remaining days, you can create your own mix of history, art in the cityscape, and activities at the lakes.

Four Lakes for Different Vacation Days

Three Mile Lake, Twelve Mile Lake, Summit Lake, and Green Valley Lake are no more than 10 miles apart and form a hub for water-based recreation in southwest Iowa. This makes it possible to organize your trip around different bodies of water without dedicating every day to the same activity. Three-Mile Lake has 10 fishing jetties and also features nearly 24 miles of shoreline. Twelve-Mile Lake offers year-round fishing for walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill.

Getting Around on Foot and by Bicycle

For active days, Creston offers a paved trail more than eight miles long for pedestrians and cyclists. It runs through McKinley Park to the campground at Green Valley State Park north of Creston. West of Green Valley Lake, the Park to Park Trail connects with six miles of grass trails suitable for hiking or mountain biking. This allows you to choose between paved surfaces and longer grass trails when planning your day. Another option is the High Lakes Outdoor Alliance Shooting Range, with five ATA-certified trap shooting stations.

Choosing the Right Accommodation Based on Your Travel Focus

When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home in Union County, it is worth first deciding on your preferred daily rhythm. Creston is a suitable focus if you want historic buildings, murals, and the paved trail to be at the center of your trip. If your main interests are fishing or exploring different lakes, you can compare accommodation locations based on your preferred bodies of water. For a trip with varied interests, the region offers a combination of culture, water-based experiences, and trails, without every day having to look the same.

Other Destinations at a Glance

For more destinations in this overview, you can also view Ida County, Kossuth County, Lucas County, Johnson, Buena Vista County, Hamilton County, and Montgomery County.

To the higher-level travel overview: Iowa.