Preparation Canyon State Park Hike-In Sites

Preparation Canyon State Park, Loess Hills State Forest (Monona County, near Pisgah)

Preparation Canyon is a small state park in the Loess Hills of western Iowa, rolling ridges built from wind-blown sediment that Islands.com calls “an unusual landscape rarely seen elsewhere in the world.” The park has no roads through its interior and ten hike-in campsites, which the DNR calls “some of the only hike-in sites in the Iowa state park system.”

Each site has a table and fire ring. Campers self-register at the east parking lot and carry everything in, including water.

The hike

The trailhead to the campsites is in the southeast corner of the park, according to the DNR, and the 2019 DNR release describes “five miles of well-kept, moderately strenuous trails.” Eight of the ten sites are within about an hour’s hike of the east trailhead; the other two are on the west side and take more effort to reach. Islands.com describes a 4.4-mile loop through the park with “moderate ups and downs throughout,” and the DNR warns of “rough terrain and loose soil.”

The landscape is the draw. The DNR’s release describes views of the windblown Loess Hills and prairie wildflowers from May through September. The surrounding Loess Hills State Forest also includes Brent’s Trail, which the DNR calls “an eight-mile marked hiking trek traversing the ridges and valleys of the Loess Hills,” and the half-mile Loess Hills Scenic Overlook trail that Islands.com describes as ADA accessible.

The park’s name comes from a vanished town. Wikipedia says Charles B. Thompson and his followers founded a Mormon settlement here in the 1850s, believing “that their existence in this life was preparation for the world to come.” The community grew to 67 houses, a post office, and a blacksmith shop before a property dispute that went to the Iowa Supreme Court; it was largely abandoned by the early 1900s. The Perrin family, descendants of settlers, sold the first 82 acres to the state in 1934 and another 157 in 1969, and the park now covers 344 acres.

Campers on The Dyrt describe the sites differently. Site 4, about a mile in, is “secluded and had great privacy” and mostly level, according to Sean J. (May 2026), while Rum R. (September 2026) found it slanted but with “plenty of nice spots to set up.” Christopher S. (July 2020) found sites 9 and 10 overgrown, with the nearby creek tributary mostly dry.

For two more Iowa overnights, try the Woodburn loops at Stephens State Forest or the Yellow River State Forest Backpack Trail.

Tips

Carry all your water. The DNR and Islands.com both say to bring enough; there’s no running water at the sites.
Bring bug spray. Several reviewers mention thick flies and mosquitoes, and one recommends a bug net and long pants.
Expect slick trails. Islands.com warns that the loess gets slippery after rain.
Bring firewood if you want a fire. A reviewer found little dead wood near site 3.
Plan for heat. The DNR advises planning water carefully for spring and summer heat.
Limited cell service, according to Islands.com.

Camping

The DNR says the ten hike-in sites are first come, first served, with self-registration at the east parking lot off Peach Avenue. Each site has a table and fire ring, but no bathroom; the DNR lists pit toilets among the park’s general facilities. Pack out everything. The park office is at 712-456-2924.

Inside Intel: Site 3 is the favorite in published reviews. Christopher S. (The Dyrt, July 2020) called it “the crown jewel,” a short climb up a hillside with “a phenomenal star gazing opportunity,” and a creek to the north that was still flowing for water. Justin W. (August 2026) chose it as “the site I’d heard was best for looking up at night,” about a 20- to 25-minute walk from the parking lot, and found the views “amazing” day and night.

Trail facts

Distance: About 5 miles of trail (DNR, 2019); a 4.4-mile loop (Islands.com)
Route type: Trail network; out-and-back to sites
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: Ten hike-in sites with tables and fire rings
Water: None at sites; creeks are unreliable
Permits: Self-register at the east parking lot
Toilets: None at sites; pit toilets elsewhere in the park
Trailhead: East parking area off Peach Avenue; campsite trail starts in the southeast corner of the park
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Slick loess on the way to site 3:

Islands.com warns that the loess on Preparation Canyon's steep ridges gets slippery after rain. Before you hike in to site 3, see how the Arc'teryx Beta SL compares with two less expensive shells.

Read the comparison →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.