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Park Review: Arrowhead Park, Neola IA
Fourth trip was a little interesting, as it involved an unplanned destination, the Arrowhead Park in Neola IA. Found in the Loess Hills area of Western Iowa, Arrowhead Park is a county-owned campground and day use area, offering short-term accommodations for visitors and locals alike. A two night stay was had for us.
Grounds: The park is conveniently off Interstate 80, just a couple miles from bypass loop Interstate 880 (formerly I-680) to allow for easy access from all four cardinal directions. After a slight bit of rural driving is a well-marked park that is very easy to navigate with any size of RV. A tiny rural town can be found on the other side of the highway, and only 20 miles from Council Bluffs to re-supply.
Sites: There are approximately 54 RV sites, an additional complement of tent sites, and a few cabins available, all first-come first-served. Six of the sites in the first set are pull-through, with the rest backing in. Paths within the camp area are one lane wide, making for a difficult chore to back-in to a side site. More luck may be had with the corner sites, as the bend of the road can be used to your advantage. Our stay had us lucky enough to find a pull-through with unpaved loose stone. No map is available, but adequate signage makes it easy to understand the layout.
Staff: Any staffing at this site was minimal to not seen at all, seeing how permit and fee payments were done by unmanned envelope station, and likely someone patrolling the grounds to ensure everyone at the park has properly checked in. Maintenance does happen, as the picnic table at our site was moved around our second night, presumably to maintain the small amount of lawn. The check-in envelope offered volunteer opportunities. These aren't out of the ordinary for a municipal park given government budgets, and they maintain the site relatively well.
Amenities: Only electricity is available at the sites, with only one 50-amp and two 30-amp plugs for each electric box covering two sites. Each campground area provides a pit toilet and hydrant to be able to fill potable water by jug. Along the road inside the park is a single dump station for sewer access. A quaint pond is on the grounds for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. A bathhouse adorned the center of the park with six unisex clean modern bathrooms and free accessible showers.
Atmosphere: Those looking for somewhere quiet to relax and connect with nature have come to the right place. Even with other RVers nearby, the grounds are somehwat secluded to allow you to feel at peace. Dogs will have plenty of places to run around, and with the day use amenities, it's just as easy to be able to stay all day as it is to head out to the Loess Hills or the Council Bluffs and Omaha area.
Overall, Arrowhead Park receives a rating of 8 out of a possible 10. For the economical price, we received a good value. The narrow campground paths, along with the lack of a swimming hole, dock some rating points. If you're looking for a short-term place to park on your way to another destination, this is a good place to be, and is going to be on our list of places to return.
WRITTEN Aug 17, 2021 at 12:00 PM
TAGS: trip 4, iowa, park review
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Loess Hills, Iowa
When some hear mention of the state of Iowa, they think of corn fields as far as the eye can see. Others think of "The Music Man", a classic musical turned film starring Robert Preston. An additional group may think of the early political caucuses. When we think of Iowa, though, there's some natural beauty in the western part of the state not to be missed.
The Loess Hills (using the German pronunciation for Löss) is a scenic area of rolling hills and natural features along nearly the entire western side of Iowa. Situated just east of Interstate 29, the Lewis and Clark Trail in the Missouri Valley, a number of byways and road loops span seven counties, allowing visitors wonderful views of the natural area. Experience Preparation Canyon near the Loess Hills State Forest, perhaps stop by Small's Fruit Farm on your way in from the Lincoln Highway, or view from the tower at the Scenic Overlook on what is now Interstate 880, if coming in from Des Moines and points east.
While in the Loess Hills, stop by one of the Visitor Centers to pick up a map booklet to show the locations of the scenic byways and excursion loops. If you prefer something a little more self-discovered, the Western Iowa Tourism Region has placed signage all along the highways to mark each byway and loop in the area. Be ready for dirt and gravel roads along some of the loops, as not everything is paved. Perhaps park in one of the designated areas and go on one of the hiking trails.
The Lewis and Clark Trail and the Loess Hills are bound by two mid-major cities should re-supply be necessary. To the south is Council Bluffs IA, an up-and-coming city sistered on the other side of the Missouri River to Omaha NE. To the north is the tri-state metropolitan area of Sioux City. North Sioux City is in SD, South Sioux City in NE, and Sioux City itself in IA. Beautiful views of the Missouri River may also be found along this corridor, and although there are no trails directly along the river, similar to the Mississippi, several bridges span the wide Missouri to witness this mighty river.
So the next time you drive the country, don't count out Iowa as just another pass-through state. Your internal compass may tell you to stop by the Loess Hills in the Missouri Valley and experience its beauty.