Iowa forests are beautiful year-round. The bright, fresh green of the spring leaves is a cheery herald of winter’s end; the rich, deep green of summer leaves provide shade from the hot sun; and the golden, rusty hues of fall delight all who see them. But winter? Winter forests have a magic of their own because instead of seeing the forest, you see through the forest.
Such unobstructed views make hiking at Cedar Bluffs Nature Area an entirely different experience in winter than during the rest of the year, when leaves hide both the big views and the smaller details of the forest.
In winter, Cedar Bluffs Overlook, accessed along an approximately 1.5-mile loop hiking trail, offers a wide view of the confluence between the large Cedar Creek and the Des Moines River.
The triangular peninsula-like area between the rivers is known by old-timers as "the island," and bald eagles often soar through the area below the overlook.
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Winter hikes also reveal the stunning silhouettes of the trees of the forest. The gnarly, twisting burr oaks, the ghostly sycamores, and the shaggy hickories stand out against the blue sky.
If you take the full loop, you’ll encounter a steep ravine, but there’s no need to struggle and slip down a steep trail because you’ll find over 150 wooden stairs to guide you safely down and back up the hills.
Many thanks to Laura S. for generously providing photographs for this article.
You’ll find a small gravel parking lot with access to the Cedar Bluffs Natural Area at 1211 Co Hwy G62 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Note that there are no bathroom facilities in this nature area. Learn more here from the Mahaska County Conservation website. For more winter hikes in Iowa, try this article.
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