Decatur County: Nature, Trails, and History

Decatur County combines a distinctive landscape with water-based activities and historic sites. Nine Eagles State Park is one of the most scenic state parks in southern Iowa; wooded hills and picturesque valleys shape its landscape. Fishing, waterfowl hunting, and recreational boating are available at Little River Lake. The 2,200-acre Little River Recreation Area is jointly managed by the Decatur County Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This lets you experience the county’s natural and recreational offerings from different perspectives: the state park’s landscape and the activities on the water.

Nature, Trails, and Getting Around

The Lamoni Recreational Trail offers six miles of paved paths for biking and hiking and follows a former railroad corridor. The Leon Scenic Trail is also paved, is 1.5 miles long, and connects the fairgrounds with the Little River Recreation Area. The six miles of the Lamoni Trail contrast with the shorter route in Leon; there, the connection between two named locations also provides a specific point of reference. If you want to include trails in your travel plans, you can weigh their lengths and routes as different considerations.

There are also two distinct reference points for navigating by road. Little River Lake and Recreation Area near Leon is five minutes east of Interstate 35; check access conditions before setting out. The Jefferson Highway, an Iowa Heritage Byway, runs directly through Decatur County. You can use these details separately for planning: one locates the area near Leon in relation to the interstate, while the other describes a route through the county.

History and Planning Your Visit

Garden Grove – Trailside Historical Park is located at the site where emigrants from Brigham Young’s 1846 vanguard established a resting settlement along the trail. It was intended to supply and shelter both the group itself and the wagon trains that followed from Nauvoo. The history of the site therefore involves not only the vanguard but also the provision of supplies for the wagon trains that came later.

Another historic landmark is Liberty Hall in Lamoni. The building was constructed in 1881 and was Joseph Smith III’s home until 1905. It is listed in Iowa’s historic house directories and on the National Register of Historic Places. The dates mark different aspects: 1881 is the year it was built, and 1905 is when Joseph Smith III’s residence there ended.

The Decatur County Courthouse still stands today and is made of iron, steel, stone, tile, brick, marble, and granite. For Liberty Hall, the construction date and its former use as a residence provide a timeline; for the courthouse, its continued existence and building materials take center stage. The Decatur County Museum adds to these historical topics with seasonal opening hours: from Memorial Day through Labor Day, it is open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Appointments can also be arranged. Check the hours before you arrive.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Decatur County, first consider whether nature and trails or historic sites will be the focus of your trip. The landscape, activities at Little River Lake, and paved trails offer different points of interest than the history of the settlement, residences, and courthouse.

Discover more destinations: Buena Vista County, Des Moines County, Union County, Polk, Hardin County, Floyd County, Jasper County.

Go to the main travel overview: Iowa.