Turin Loess Hills State Preserve

Turin Loess Hills State Preserve is a 220-acre area featuring a rugged Loess Hills landscape with an abrupt west-facing ridge. It is located in the southern unit of the 3,000-acre Loess Hills Wildlife Area, 2 miles north of Turin and 7.5 miles east of Onawa in Monona County. 

The Iowa Conservation Commission purchased the area in 1974. In 1978, the area was dedicated as a biological and geological state preserve and became part of a National Natural Landmark in 1986. 

About the Land

Located on the western edge of the Loess Hills landform region, the preserve overlooks the broad Missouri River valley, which was the source of the silt now forming the hills. 

Characterized by a series of steep ridges with narrow crests and very steep side slopes, it is an excellent example of the unique “peak and saddle” topography of the 60- to 150-foot-thick loess deposits that developed 14,000 to 30,000 years ago from wind-blown silt. 

Within the preserve, the one- to three-yard-wide ridges and numerous side spurs are covered with native prairie vegetation. Numerous ravines are forested primarily with bur oak and eastern red cedar trees. The steep, west-facing slope above the flat Missouri River floodplain is typically hot and dry. Vegetation on this slope is dominated by little bluestem and Indian grass. 

The lack of fire in the decades prior to state ownership allowed large areas of smooth sumac, rough-leaved dogwood, and eastern red cedar to invade and become established. A management program of controlled burning and brush cutting has been instituted to help reverse the invasion. The northeast-facing slopes are more mesic with much Indian grass and big bluestem. 

Directions

1. From Sioux City, drive south on I-29 to Highway 175 (exit 112) at Onawa. 
2. Turn east (left) on Highway 175 and go 9 miles to Larpenteur Memorial Road in Turin. 
3. Turn north (left) and go 1.5 miles to the parking lot for the preserve on east side of the road (sign: Turin Loess Hills State Preserve).

Plants

Of the more than 700 species of plants found throughout the Loess Hills, over 200 vascular plant species plus several bryophytes occur at this preserve. 

Many of the plants are typical of the Great Plains and exist nowhere else in Iowa outside of the Loess Hills. Examples are: 

• Yucca
• Skeletonweed
• Cut-leaf iron plant
• Sand lily
• Nine-­anthered dalea 
• Lambert’s crazyweed

In the spring, prairie dandelion, violet wood sorrel, and prairie violet are common occurrences. Prairie moonwort can also be found at this preserve in the spring. 

Summer brings a diverse array of forbs including: 

• Green milkweed
• Silvery scurf-pea
• Thimbleweed
• Downy painted cup

By fall, the golden hues of the prairie grasses and Missouri and showy goldenrods are accentuated by the purple hues of silky aster, fall aster, smooth aster, and silvery white sage. 

Birds & Species

The mixture of prairie and woodland in this preserve maintains a variety of birds and other animals. Common mammals include:

• Prairie vole
• Short-tailed shrew
• Red fox
• Badger

Indigo bunting, yellow-billed cuckoo, orchard oriole, and rufous-sided towhee nest in the woodlands, whereas western meadowlark and lark sparrow nest in the prairie areas. 

Amphibians and reptiles in the prairie areas include:

• The Great Plains toad
• Woodhouse’s toad
• Six-lined racerunner
• Prairie kingsnake
• Plains garter snake
• Lined snake

Amphibians and reptiles found in the woodland areas include the smallmouth salamander, gray treefrog, ringneck snake, and redbelly snake. 

Visitor Information

Hunting is permitted. 

Other natural areas in the Loess Hills include:

• Waubonsie State Park
• Sylvan Runkel State Preserve
• Loess Hills Wildlife Area
• Preparation Canyon State Park
• Stone State Park
• Mount Talbot State Preserve
• Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve
• The Loess Hills State Forest