Western Skies Scenic Byway

Western Skies Scenic Byway. . , Background , The Western Skies Scenic Byway, dedicated in 1998, is among the first state designated scenic byways in Iowa. The Byway is 142-miles long, traveling through Harrison, Shelby, Audubon and Guthrie Counties, and 14 rural towns. It is easily accessible to travelers from both Interstate 80 and Interstate 29. The Byway journeys through Iowa's rolling hills and working farms, offering travelers a chance to experience life in the rural communities along the way. , Along the Way , While traveling along the ridge top of the Western Skies Scenic Byway, you will find many adventures along your way. Whether it be by water along the Middle Raccoon Water Trail, or by foot through one of the state parks or preserves, many adventures await. , With two landform regions running through Guthrie County, there is a vast majority of landscape to take in and observe. The last glacier to advance into Iowa just 15,000 years ago, created the Des Moines Lobe landscape region, leaving a large flat, poorly drained landscape. Just South of the Des Moines Lobe lies the Southern Iowa Drift Plain landscape, dominated by glacial deposits that were carved by deep stream erosion leaving steeply rolling hills and valleys with numerous creeks and rivers spread throughout and a mantle of loess drapes the upper hill slopes. When down in the valleys this region creates a sense of enclosure. , With so many things to see and do, Western Skies Scenic Byway is a weekend adventure! , [inset image captions] , . Riverbank Wildrye is one of Iowa's native plant species often seen along the river's edge or in the woodland understory. , . Landform Regions of Iowa, Project Sponsored by: , Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development , Iowa Department of Natural Resources through a Natural Resource Based Opportunity Grant (NRBOG). , Photographs © Emily Haase; Golden Hills RC&D