Howard County Conservation Board
Howard County Parks are a great way to discover outdoor recreational opportunities. Activities provided are numerous and include hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, boating and canoeing, cross country skiing, hiking, bike riding, firearm shooting, nature study, bird watching, photography, softball, and volleyball.
The Howard County Conservation Board encourages the public's participation in all recreational opportunities offered and continues to work at keeping these areas in quality shape. Please respect our areas and leave them as you would like to find them.
Turkey River Campground - $25/night which includes electricity & water hookups at each site with restrooms and showers available.
Lidtke Campground - $25/night which includes electricity & water hookups at each site with restrooms and showers available
Lake Hendricks Campground - $25/night which includes electricity & water hookups at each site with restrooms and showers available
Camping fees at all of the HCCB campgrounds are $25.00 / Night, which includes water and electrical hook-ups at each site
NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTION
Pre-construction work has begun on the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail. The work being done at this time consists mainly of clearing and grubbing along the trail from the Cresco Yard Waste Site down to the Prairie’s Edge Nature Center. Please be aware that this section of the trail is now closed! Please obey all trail closure barricades. These closures will also affect potions of the cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. When using these trails, if you come to a trail closure, PLEASE TURN AROUND and go back the way you came. Please bear with the Howard County Conservation Department and the City of Cresco as we work to improve the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail for all users!
Click on any of the Areas listed below to open a Aerial View Map
Located two miles south of Cresco on Valley Avenue Driving Directions:
from HWY 9 in Cresco at the west set of stop lights, go south on 3rd St. W one block, take a right onto 4th Ave SW, and take the next left onto Vernon Road. Stay on Vernon Road.
It will change into Valley Avenue. You will see the Prairie's Edge Nature Center on the east side of the road about 2 miles south of Cresco.
The Prairie’s Edge Nature Center was opened in 2000 through the support of the community, donations from local citizens and businesses, and grants. The building functions as a learning center for visitors to become more familiar with their natural surroundings. The Prairie’s Edge Nature Center gets its name from the native prairie planted next to the building. In addition to the educational aspects, the Nature Center also holds the Howard County Conservation Offices and Board Room.
When you walk into the nature center you will feel like you are walking into the forest with a canopy of trees high above you. Make sure you look closely for all of the wildlife and bird’s nest tucked in the trees! A full size replica bald eagle’s nest is also high in the tree with the nest’s perimeter painted on the floor so you can see if YOUR family would be able to call the nest “home”. Meanwhile, don’t spend all of your time looking up! Throughout the nature center animal tracks can be found on the floor, can you identify them?
A live honeybee display allows you to get up close and personal with these interesting insects! This is a seasonal display and allows the bees to fly in and out of the building while they go about their daily life. Come and learn why honeybees are so important to humans! Three main animal displays occupy the building. Each covers a separate wildlife habitat found in Iowa: woodlands, prairie, and wetlands. These exhibits allow visitors to see animals that live in these habitats up close and learn more about them and the habitat itself.
A separate room of the Nature Center holds the library and touch-and-feel section. In the library, both children’s and adult books involving nature are ready to be perused. There are also reference books and field guides available for study. The rest of the library room is our touch section that allows you to touch animal pelts, bones, and other nature related items. Learn more about feeding birds and building nest boxes for the birds to use. There are also displays that will help you understand the prairie better and also test your ability to jump like different types of wildlife!
The rental of the basement of the Nature Center is limited to business meetings and luncheons and organization meetings.
The shelter located outside the Nature Center is a popular spot for large picnics, group activities, and family reunions. It is often busy throughout the summer. Therefore we recommend calling the Howard County Conservation Office ahead of time to place a reservation at (563) 547-3634
The Prairie’s Edge Nature Center is open for public viewing Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM.
The Vernon Springs Mill Pond, located next to the Nature Center, offers visitors with a chance for some boating, canoeing or fishing. A boat ramp is available along with shelters and a dock.
A small taste of the beauty found in other parts of Northeast Iowa can be found along the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail. On either side of the trail, native prairie areas can be enjoyed from early Spring with the emergence of Prairie Smoke, Puccoon, Alexander, and Phlox.
Midsummer brings about occurrences of Rattlesnake Master, Yellow Coneflower, Wild Quinine, and Blazing Star. In the Fall sights of asters, goldenrod, and gentians abound. Please appreciate the plants in their natural habitat and do not disturb them so that the next person on the trail can enjoy them also. Small patches of woodlands, made up of elm, sumac, box elder, and oak can also be found along the trail.
These areas are homes to many types of birds and other wildlife. These shady patches are well liked by summer visitors seeking refuge from the summer sun. Rest areas, shelters, and picnic tables are scattered along the trail for relaxing breaks from the trail exercise.
Activities
Bicyclists, joggers, hikers, and cross-country skiers are all invited to use the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail. Snowmobiles are allowed on a restricted basis between Ridgeway to Cresco only.
Accesses
Cresco - Access to the Prairie Farmer Recreational trail is located in Cresco on the north side of State Highway 9.
County Line - A parking area and access is provided approximately two miles from the Cresco terminus on county road 345th Avenue.
Ridgeway
The trail is accessible anywhere within the city limits of Ridgeway.
This is also the access to the snowmobile portion of the trail between Ridgeway and near Cresco.
Non-snowmobile access is available at Ridgeway Trailside Park on the east edge of town.
The trail runs through the park, where conveniences of water, pit toilets, shelter, playground, picnicking, and parking are provided.
Calmar - The terminus is located at the newly renovated railroad depot at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and the old railroad crossing. Parking is available at the depot site. Accesses are also available at any road crossing along the trail. Please do not block the trail crossings with your vehicles.
More Information
The trail is funded by the Howard County Conservation Board (HCCB), the Winneshiek County Conservation Board (WCCB), and by grants from the Iowa and Federal Departments of Transportation.
For further information, contact the HCCB, 11562 Valley Ave, PO Box 157, Cresco, IA 52136. Phone number: (563) 547-3634 or
Email us.
Additional information is available at the WCCB, 2546 Lake Meyer Road, Fort Atkinson, IA. The phone number is (563) 534-7145 or email them at d4os@acegroup.cc
All persons using the trail are at their own risk and should be aware of possible risks innate to remote and natural areas. Trail users are encouraged to wear protective gear on the trail such as bike helmets, etc. Customary trail etiquette like verbal signals while passing are also suggested. Bikers are also suggested to keep to the right while riding.
Prairie Springs Recreational Trail 2.5-mile trail (paved) from Cresco to Vernon Springs Truly a trail for all seasons, the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail is excellent for many different activities year-round.
The trail is 2.5 miles, paved, which runs along the Prairie's Edge Nature Center.
Breathtaking beauty and glorious displays of nature can be witnessed the entire length of the trail.
There are many varieties of prairie grasses and flowers that line the route through rolling farmland and shaded woods.
Speaking of woods, often a deer, turkey, or any number of native birds and animals can be seen as you ride or walk through.
On a hot summer day the woods provide a welcome retreat from the sun.
The trail is dotted with benches and picnic areas where you can stop to catch your breath, or enjoy a lunch with nature all around you.
In the winter there is a groomed trail for cross country skiing
Access the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail either from Cresco (on 7th Ave SW east of Vernon Road) or The Prairie's Edge Nature Center (2 miles south of Cresco on Vernon Road). Either location offers parking for loading and unloading of your recreational equipment. Bike, Walk, Rollerblade, Cross-Country Ski, Nature Watch and More!
Wapsi-Great Western Line Recreational Trail – This hard surfaced multi-use recreational trail spans 13 miles in southwestern Howard County. Beginning in Elma, the trail follows the abandoned Wapsi-Great Western Line RR north to the old unincorporated RR town of Acme. A scenic route, the trail takes you past Lylah’s Marsh along the way. Once in Acme, the trail continues northwestward into Riceville, taking you through farmland landscape along the way, crossing the Little Wapsipinicon River 4 times before arriving in Riceville. Once in Riceville, the trail takes you past the Trailhead/Welcome Center, where parking, restrooms and museum items are located. The trail continues north out of Riceville, taking you through Lake Hendricks Park and into Mitchell County. Once in Mitchell County, the trail continues for another 18 miles through the town of McIntyre, the Pinicon Alders Wildlife Area, and finally ends at the Minnesota State Line just short of Minnesota’s “Shooting Star” trail system. For more information about the Wapsi-Great Western Line Recreational Trail, please click here to visit their website.
Bigalk Trout Stream
Bonair Shooting Range
Florenceville Park
Lake Hendricks Park
Lidtke Park
Lubbert Park
Lylah's Marsh
Taylor's Pond
Turkey River Campground
Upper Iowa River Access
Vernon Springs Park
Cleghorn Wildlife Area
Crane Creek Wildlife Area
Dieken Wildlife Area
Evans-Hughes Forest
Hart Pond Wildlife Area
Joachim Woods Wildlife Area
Kleckner Wildlife Area
Martinek Wildlife Area
Meirick's Pond
Mullen Wildlife Area
Reis Wildlife Area
Souhrada Forest
Souhrada Wildlife Area
Thomson Marsh
Turkey Bend Wildlife Area
Wittenbreer Marsh
Souhrada Forest
Souhrada Wildlife Area
Thomson Marsh
Turkey Bend Wildlife Area
Wittenbreer Marsh
The HCCB DOES NOT take Reservations at Any of it's Campgrounds, all sites are First come - First served
Howard County Conservation Contact
Prairie's Edge Nature Center
11562 Valley Ave PO Box 157 Cresco IA 52136
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 12:00pm & 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Office Phone number: (563) 547-3634
Lake Hendricks Number: (641) 985-2127
Conservation Director: Jeff Korsmo
Howard County Conservation Board invites you to visit our beautiful recreational facilities.