Come along with me to Western Iowa
Hiking The Loess Hills - a very unique landscape and trying the 2024 Winner of the Best Pork Tenderloin in Iowa
As the fall leaves began to change, my boyfriend Nick and I talked about driving to Eastern Iowa to check out the scenery. Three and a half hours each way seemed like a bit too long for a Saturday, so I suggested the Loess (rhymes with bus) Hills in Western Iowa. It’s a little over two hours from Des Moines, which seemed doable. When I looked at the online map, I saw we could stop in Dunlap, population 1,000, on the way home. In October, Dairy Sweet, owned by Lori and Greg Thomsen, earned the title of Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin by the Iowa Pork Producers for the second time. Their first win was in 2005 when Lori’s parents owned the restaurant. Nick is a big fan of pork tenderloins and enjoys trying award-winning burgers and tenderloins around the state.
On our drive west on I-80, we stopped at the Loveland Overlook near Honey Creek, which also serves as a rest stop and picnic area. It was a windy day, especially as we climbed the many steps to the top and enjoyed the view.
Nick was born in Clinton, Iowa, and is familiar with the Mississippi side of the state but has not traveled much in Western Iowa. I grew up in Carroll in West Central, Iowa, and often saw the Loess Hills on the way to and from Omaha. I told him about the uniqueness of the Loess Hills, situated along the Missouri River. The hills are amongst the flat fields and wind turbines in the western part of the state.
During the last ice age, glaciers melted, exposing mud. As the mud dried, strong winds blew silt into tall dunes. The Loess Hills are 220 miles long (running from north of Sioux City and ending in St. Joseph, Missouri) and, in some areas, as high as 200 feet. They’re home to unique animals, including prairie rattlesnakes and the pocket mouse. The endangered Loess Hills Fern, yucca, and the Cowboy’s Delight flower grow wild.
The only other area in the world with loess deposits is the Yellow River region in the Shaanxi province of China.
We drove to the Loess Hills Scenic Outlook near Moorhead, Iowa, and parked in the parking lot. It was a sunny day but a bit chilly and windy. We set off on our hike down the steps of the deck to walk across the “spine” of the hills. We followed the very narrow trail and walked amongst as the tall, dried plants brushed against our legs. We admired the deep red and indigo-blue yucca plants along the way. We saw three young deer scampering across a nearby field. Fellow hikers smiled and said hello as we crossed paths.
After our hikes, we drove sixteen miles to Dunlap, ready for a meal. Dairy Sweet is located in the business area next to shops and other restaurants. The café offers standard fare, including burgers, salads, broasted chicken, and, of course, their 2-time award-winning “Breaded Pork Tender Sandwich” for only $7.15. I opted for the Pizza Burger, a childhood favorite of mine. Nick was very happy with his breaded pork sandwich, which he topped with sliced onion and pickles. The gigantic sandwich is a very popular menu item, and many restaurant goers boxed up half of theirs to bring home.
As it approached 5:00 p.m., the restaurant began filling up with hungry families. After our meals, we couldn’t resist ordering an ice cream treat. I chose a Butterscotch Malt, and Nick picked a Twin Bing Tornado, a Western Iowa treat. Sioux City is home to the Twin Bing, a confection of chewy cherry nougat surrounded by chopped peanuts and chocolate. We were both pleased with our selections.
As we drove home, we chatted about our adventurous day. We were full from dinner and ready for a good night's sleep.
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Beautiful photos!
Another lovely place to stay in the Loess Hills is the cabin on the RT Reese Homestead Nature Preserve, a mile north of the tiny town of Turin. It is nestled in the Loess Hills with a view all the way across the Little Sioux and Missouri River valleys to Nebraska. It sleeps up to 8. Monona County Conservation manages the rentals.