Hayden Prairie State Preserve

Hayden Prairie State Preserve

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Birds of Interest

Several native grassland birds are among the forty-six species of birds that have been found here, including Bobolinks, meadowlarks, Dickcissels, Grasshopper Sparrows, Upland Sandpipers, Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls, and Henslow’s Sparrows, as well as the introduced Ring-necked Pheasant and Gray Partridge

About this Location

Important Bird Area.

From the intersection of Highway‑3 and County Road‑V58 (3rd‑Street) in Cresco, drive west on Highway 3 for 13 miles to Jade Avenue. Turn north (right) and go 5 miles to 50th Street. Turn west (left) and go 0.25 mile to the preserve parking area on the south side of the road (sign: Hayden Prairie State Preserve).

Hayden Prairie is the largest prairie in Iowa outside of the Loess Hills. This 240-acre preserve is located in northern Howard County, thirteen miles northeast of Riceville and four miles west of Lime Springs. It was investigated in 1945 by Dr. Ada Hayden, a botanist who first promoted the preservation of native prairie in Iowa. The prairie was purchased by the Iowa Conservation Commission in 1945 and was named in honor of Dr. Hayden after her death in 1950. It was recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1966 and was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968.

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from DNR Website

Last updated July 12, 2023