Loess Hills Scenic Byway
Stone State Park, IA

Stone State Park is a 1,322-acre area containing woodlands, topography with scenic overlooks, interpretive panels and native prairie. Rare butterflies such as the Pawnee Skipper are found on the prairie ridges and a variety of prairie plants can be found on the steep, dry slopes. Late April and early May are the best times to view the woodland flowers. Dakota Point and Elk Point provide scenic overlooks of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa.

The park began as an area of hunting and camping for native groups like the Dakota Sioux. The area was taken over by Daniel Hector Talbot in 1883 and passed through the hands of several men and Sioux City until it was acquired by the state of Iowa. The park is named for Edgar Stone who began to develop the area for a park nearly 100 years ago.