Steele Prairie State Preserve

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State Preserves

T. H. Steele Prairie is a 200-acre native tallgrass prairie, consisting of a 160-acre tract and a separate 40-acre tract. It is located 10.5 miles north of Cherokee in northern Cherokee County. 

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About the Land

The preserve’s terrain is characteristic of the gently rolling topography of the Northwest Iowa Plains, which was last glaciated 20,000 to 30,000 years ago during an early phase of Wisconsinan-age glaciation. 

This is one of the largest prairies remaining in Iowa outside of Loess Hills. Dr. Ada Hayden initially visited this prairie (which she termed “Cherokee No. 2”) in 1945 and recommended that it be protected. 

The prairie had been used as a hayfield by the Steele family since 1880. The Nature Conservancy and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources jointly purchased the site from the Steele family in 1986. It was dedicated in 1987 as a biological and geological state preserve during “Prairie Heritage Week.” 

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Directions

  1. From the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 59 on the north side of Cherokee, take Highway 59 north for 6 miles to its intersection with County Road C16 (450th Street) by the small town of Larrabee. 
  2. Continue north on Highway 59 for 1 mile to 440th Street (sign: Steele Prairie State Preserve). 
  3. Turn west (left) and go 1.75 miles to the parking spot for the north unit of the preserve (sign: Steele Prairie State Preserve). 
  4. To get to the south unit from here, go back east 0.75 mile on 440th Street to “P” Avenue, turn south (right), and go 0.5 mile to the preserve on the east side of the road (sign: Steele Prairie State Preserve).
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Plants

Most of the vegetation in the preserve is comprised of mesic prairie on uplands, with smaller areas of wet prairie communities along drainageways. 

The mesic uplands are dominated by big bluestem, prairie dropseed, and porcupine grass with myriad colorful wildflowers. 

The lower wet swales are dominated by sedges, blue-joint grass, and prairie cordgrass.

In May, blooms include:

  • Hoary puccoon
  • Prairie violet
  • Bastard toadflax
  • Golden alexanders
  • Violet wood sorrel 

They are joined by blue-eyed grass, prairie larkspur, and leadplant in June. By July, the early spring flowers have faded and are replaced by: 

  • Pale purple coneflower
  • Butterfly weed
  • Rattlesnake master
  • New Jersey tea
  • Gray-headed coneflower
  • Blackeyed Susan
  • Silvery scurf-pea

By August, compass plant and prairie blazing star are blooming. 

Fall brings sneezeweed, stiff goldenrod, smooth blue aster, and downy gentian. 

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Birds & Species

The preserve is dotted with ant mounds and animal burrows and provides habitat for many species of birds, mammals, and butterflies, including upland sandpiper, sedge wren, and common yellowthroat. 

Western harvest mouse, meadow jumping mouse, masked shrew, short-tailed shrew, and least weasel also find refuge among the prairie plants at this preserve. 

There are twenty-four butterfly species found in the drier prairie, including: 

  • Arogos skipper
  • Wild indigo duskywing
  • Melissa blue
  • Crossline skipper
  • Checkered white
  • Great spangled
  • Regal fritillary 

Found in the wetter portions of the preserve are:

  • Black dash
  • Mulberry wing
  • Long dash
  • Eyed brown
  • Black swallowtail
  • Tiger swallowtail
  • Eastern-tailed blue
  • Silver-spotted skipper
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Visitor Information

Hunting is permitted. 

Other natural areas in the vicinity include Waterman Prairie Wildlife Area and Nestor Stiles Prairie State Preserve.

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