March 2, 2026.
8.2 mi. | 1500′ ele. gain | 3:20 hr.
Everyone thinks Iowa is flat as a pancake. I set out to disprove this myth on this day. Fifteen hundred feet of elevation gain along a single trail? That can’t be, I thought. But there I was, at the start of Brent’s trail in the Loess Hills of western Iowa, gearing up to do some climbing.
Just before noon, I began my walk. Aaron agreed to be my shuttle driver so that I could do a one-way hike of the entire trail. I soon found some interpretive signs that explained the uniqueness and character of this place. For the geology beginners (myself included), the term loess (rhymes with bus) refers to fine sediment that has been carried by wind and deposited in piles elsewhere. Apparently this particular type of loess formation occurs here in Iowa and clear across the planet in China. I felt lucky to see it in person.
Oak leaf-shaped metal posts marked the narrow trail as it climbed steeply uphill, downhill and over to the next one. Based on the poor traction I got on the few muddy sections, I was glad it had been dry recently. I was also really glad I prepared by reading some trip reports and taking the “bring poles” recommendation seriously. I’ve done plenty of hill walks, but these formations were among the steepest I’ve seen. My poles got just as much of a workout as I did.
What an honor to have such a cool trail named after you, I thought, as I followed the constantly changing path. It passed a cemetary, traversed between sheer mud walls, snaked through the forest, followed the hilltops. I observed many birds on the walk, including cedar waxwings and a red-headed woodpecker. When I reached a scenic bench overlooking the farmland below, I paused to eat my lunch and enjoy the view. Though it was the dead of winter and everything was crispy brown, it was still a beautiful sight.
From there, I wandered back down the hills, followed a gravel road and crossed some farm fields. The diversity of terrain on this little trail was quite impressive! Well done, Iowa.
Near the end of the route, I had to defeat the final boss: a series of slick descents that had absolutely no bypass option. It was me and my seemingly traction-less shoes and mud that had the properties of the non-nutritive lubricant from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I fell twice, even with my poles. I cannot imagine attempting this hike without them.
When I got to the end of the trail, I put all my layers on and sat on a rock. Using a stick, I pried loose all the mud caked into the bottoms of my shoes. It was thick. I’d brought a book to read, since I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to complete the route and I had to wait for Aaron to pick me up. While reading, two kind locals swung through the lot and asked me if I was okay. I thanked them for their concern, then returned to my thermos of tea and my book. The helpful nature of the people of the Midwest cannot be overstated.
A note about Brent: “Brent’s Trail is dedicated in loving memory to Brent Olson. He was the area forester for the Loess Hills State Forest that doubled in size through land acquisitions since he started in 1991… Brent had a vision of a long-distance hiking trail in Harrison County. He wanted people to experience the beauty of the Loess Hills in a unique way…this dream became reality when Brent’s trail was dedicated on June 8th, 2019.” Though Brent passed away in 2016, the community helped to see his vision through, and hopefully it will evolve into a long-distance trail as he wanted. I’d say this is a most excellent start and I implore anyone visiting the area to take a stroll on this awesome trail. Just be sure to bring your poles and a good pair of shoes.
