(Council Bluffs) Peak fall colors are approaching at your Pottawattamie County parks, and Pottawattamie Conservation is inviting community members to visit throughout the month of October to experience the color show while enjoying fun fall festivities.
At Hitchcock Nature Center, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree autumnal view atop the park’s 45-foot observation tower as they learn about volunteer-led HawkWatch, a raptor research effort, during HawkWatch Appreciation Days every Saturday in October from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Also at Hitchcock, trail runners and walkers can immerse themselves in fall foliage on Sunday, October 5th during the park’s 20th Annual HawkWatch 5k Trail Run/Walk. Proceeds from the race support park operations and habitat preservation, and signups are available day-of for $35. Hitchcock Nature Center is located at 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542.
At Botna Bend Park, visitors are invited to get into the Halloween spirit during All Hallows Eve Festival on Saturday, October 4th from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This event features a costume contest, campsite decoration contest, trick-or-treating, hot dogs, cookie-decorating, hay rack rides, and is free with park entry or membership. Costumes are highly encouraged. Botna Bend Park is located at 42926 Mahogany Road Hancock, Iowa 51536.
At Arrowhead Park, visitors are invited to attend Chili Fest on Saturday, October 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This annual celebration features an assortment of chilis, pumpkin-decorating, trick-or-treating, hayrack rides, and more and is free with park entry or membership. Costumes are highly encouraged. Arrowhead Park is located at 29357 310th Street Neola, Iowa 51559.
At Narrows River Park, visitors can enjoy Missouri River access and gather with friends at family at a park shelter or the archery range throughout October. The park plans to close for the winter season starting November 1st and will reopen on April 1st, 2026. Narrows River Park is located at 2500 North 25th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501.
Pottawattamie Conservation’s environmental education team is also leading several fall-focused programs for visitors. Pre-registration for education programming is required and available online at www.pottconservation.com.
All ages are invited to Crescent Hill at Hitchcock (previously Mt. Crescent Ski Area) at 17026 Snowhill Lane Honey Creek, IA 51542 on October 18th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Bones & Blacklights: Unearthing Nature’s Secrets in Skulls for a fun animal skull scavenger hunt. This program is $5 per person; free for ages 4 and under.
Ages 16+ are invited to Hitchcock Nature Center for Halloween Witchy Woods Walk on Saturday, October 25th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to learn about “spooky season” folklore as they meander through the fall forest. This program is $10 per person.
Storytellers, musicians, and poets ages 16+ are invited to Story Weaver on October 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center. This storytelling series creates a space for community members to listen to and share stories inspired by the natural world and is free with park entry or membership.
Pottawattamie Conservation also wants to remind the public to resist the urge to prune their gardens and “leave the leaves” in an effort to provide vital overwintering habitat for important pollinators including butterflies, bees, and more. Even leaving a small section of your yard undisturbed helps to preserve declining pollinator populations, which we rely on to produce one-third of the food we eat.
