Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

A 220-mile spine from Akron to Hamburg along Iowa's western edge, tracing a globally rare loess landform that piles into sharp ridges above the Missouri River valley. The most dramatic ridge riding is between Pisgah and Little Sioux, and a network of paved-and-gravel excursion loops branches off the main route.

86 mi
Length
4
Verified stops
High point
Scenic
Road type

What you'll hit along the way.

Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.

Mile 0.0

Akron

Northern terminus near the Big Sioux River with fuel and basic services.

Mile 115.0

Pisgah

Small village where the byway's sharpest ridge terrain begins — the stretch south toward Little Sioux is the signature section.

Mile 122.0

Little Sioux

Village at the south end of the best ridge section; the Murray Hill overlook on the ridge road just north of town is the byway's most photographed viewpoint.

Mile 220.0

Hamburg

Southern terminus in Iowa's far southwest corner, with fuel and food before the Missouri state line.

No runs logged on this road yet — be the first.

Runs are rider-logged & GPS-traced in the app

Ride your own ride — times are rider-logged & GPS-traced, never a race on public roads.

Shot by the riders who've run it.

Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.

0 rider submissions