Fall Foliage: Iowa's Scenic Seasonal Beauty at Your Fingertips

Sure, there's plenty of places to see the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of autumn, but a new project called LeafQuest recommends the choicest destinations in Iowa and beyond. It'll be worth the trip.

Patch and MapQuest have combined on a project called LeafQuest. The project identifies three leaf-peeping spots in each of 49 states (no Hawaii), plus Washington, D.C. Check out the extended project here.

Iowa's recommendations for observing the glory of the season include Loess Hills Scenic Byway in Western Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, and Ledges State Park in Madrid. Each site pits the hues of fall against spectacular backdrops. 

Here's more:

Ledges State Park

Oak, hickory, basswood and maple line the slopes of Ledges State Park. “This blend of northern and southern forest types," brags the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, "provides spectacular autumn leaf colors.” If that’s not enough for visitors searching for a stunning display of autumn leaves, then they’ll be pleased to find the Iowa Arboretum on the outskirts of the park. Visitors can choose to bask in the autumnal glow of maples, oak, hickory and elm trees with leisure walks through the grounds, brisk hikes or bracing bike rides.

1515 P Ave., Madrid, IA 50156 | Get Directions 

Effigy Mounds National Monument

In addition to the oak-hickory forest filled with white ash, sugar maple, hackberry and honey locust trees that provide the visual firepower, visitors to the Effigy Mounds National Monument will also get an emotional charge from the more than 200 ceremonial mounds that were a "regional cultural phenomenon" of the 12 Native American tribes from the area. The mounds in this park are most often in the shape of animals, such as bears, birds, panthers and turtles.

Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146 | Get Directions

Loess Hills Scenic Byway

Loess Hills Scenic Byway weaves thorough more than 200 miles of loess, or sediment windblown into dunes during the last ice age. The enormous area of the Loess Hills comprises more than 640,000 acres -- and more than 1,500 archeological sites that capture the culture of pre-Columbian cultures. On the journey, leaf lovers should slow down to a cruise to catch glimpses of the prairie grasses turning golden and the burr oak, sumac and dogwood trees as they begin to change from green to vibrant warm hues in the autumn. Start your quest at the Loess Hills Visitors Center and Gift Shop in Moorhead.

119 Oak St., Moorhead, IA 51558-3029 | Get Directions

What do you think are the best places to view fall foliage in Iowa?