The Hub of the Hills

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Iowa

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 2 visitors

State: Iowa
Date Submitted: March 1, 2009
Submitted by: Ronnie & Rhonda McHugh
Motorcycle Road Length: 60 Miles

Written Directions

Starting at Missouri Valley, IA take HWY 30 East (Lincoln Hwy) to Logan. Left at stop light (N.2nd Ave) onto Hwy 127. Go north through Magnolia and continue on Hwy 127 to Loess Hills Trail where you go right. Take this a short drive up to Hwy 183 and take a right on to Hwy 83 heading north up to Pisgah. Tale a left on to F20/Easton Trail and head west to Murray Hill Lookout. Continue on to Vine St in Little Sioux and continue west on F20 to River Sioux, IA. From there head south (left) onto K45/Austin Ave, to Mondamin where you want to take a left on to Hwy 127 (heading east). Continue as road turns right and becomes Loess Hills Trail and takes you down to the ending point (and starting point) in Missouri Valley.

Scenery

Iowa's Loess Hills have 220 miles of scenic loops and byways. Only one other place in the world (yes the world) can claim the same rights-of-passage and that is in China. This route is only a hint to what you are about to explore. Murray Hill Scenic Overlook being "one of the best in the hills" is a must see. You can pull off on the edge of the road and take in the view which you can see for miles or you can park in the rocked parking area and hike to the very top and FEEL the experience from a 360-degree view. While in the Hills you will think: Is this heaven? No, that's right, it's Iowa! As you leave the hills and ride along side them you will understand their majestic significance. There's a saying those of us that live here say from time to time, "If you are lucky enough to live in The Hills, you're lucky enough"!

Road Quality

There are several Loops off the Byway Spine you can take although some are partly gravel (and even dirt), so stop at the Harrison County Welcome Center HWY 30, 3 miles east of Missouri Valley and pick up your Loess Hills guide book. In the spring from the winter thaw the black top roads tend to have occasional rough spots or even soft edges. Just go slow, enjoy the view, around the corner is some new and inspirational chapters of your life.

Roadside Amenities

At Missouri Valley you will find a variety of accommodations for eating and sleeping with 8 restaurants/ lounges and 4 motels near the I-29 and Hwy 30 corridors. Just 2 miles west of Logan is the Museum of Religious Arts a 20,000 sq.ft. building that displays formerly from the Sunken Gardens in Florida, 44 life-size wax figures, portraying the life of Christ among many religious art and artifacts from all over the world. At Pisgah, stop at Dave's Old Home Cafe for either a bite or a cold one. The cafe originally known as the OLD HOME FILLER-UP and KEEP ON TRUCKIN' CAFE, yes the very song C.W. McCall wrote about. While still in Pisgah, check out the Loess Hills State Forest Visitor Center to learn about the Loess Hills and why they are so unique.

Just northeast of Pisgah (HWY 183) is a favorite stop we take several times of the year. Midway Tavern in Soldier, Steve the owner holds several fundraiser poker runs and last Labor day over 1200 riders participated. Memorial Day is another huge turnout so mark your calendars and if your schedule is too busy to be there then try a Wednesday Steak night! Just tell him Rhonda from Magnolia sent you!.

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) Ronnie & Rhonda McHugh

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Reviewed by Guest on January 11, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Tim L
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Standard
Comment: Four of rode this route last October and we had a BLAST! The trees were just starting to change color and it was awesome. We had a slightly shorter route going from Mo Valley to Onawa (which has a steel grate birdge over the muddy Mo! ) We did several of the loops during the ride which made it last all day. Have been here before and will go back again! Road condition was an 8, ammenities a little less but home town hospitality abounded wherever we stopped.
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Reviewed by Guest on July 28, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Mike G.
Comment: I took this route today and found it very peaceful and scenic. The peacefulness may have been in part due to it being Sunday. I haven't done much IA off-freeway driving to compare, but I'd definitely put this in the 4 to 5 star range for scenery. Road wise a solid 4. As one would expect the roads in the small towns were a bit rough in places but overall the ride was very good. Do be careful to watch your speed between Pisgah and Little Sioux as the road is rather curvy in places (FUN!!) with about a foot of the driving lane on both sides covered with rock from the shoulders. This caused the traffic I encountered coming towards me to drift into my lane around curves. I didn't make any stops along the way (this was a solo ride) but I plan on going again with my "Real Boss"...aka wife...and hope to get to know the quaint towns a little better.
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