Showcase Projects:
Wickiup Hill & Cedar River Greenbelt

Visitors at the Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area on Archaeology Day. INHF Photo

About this place
The Cedar River is the primary natural feature for the Cedar Rapids area. Thanks to protection efforts that began in the 1980s, the Cedar River Greenbelt ensures that a core of natural land along the river will remain part of this urban community. When the greenbelt began, few Iowans understood that wetlands are important to water quality as well as wildlife. Today, in addition to water quality and wildlife benefits, the greenbelt offers public areas for hiking, hunting, and other recreation. 

LCCB added the 10,000-square foot Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center to the greenbelt in the fall of 2002 to provide convenient boardwalks, classroom facilities and displays for school groups and families to learn about wetlands, woodlands and wildlife. The Center is located in the Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area, which is part of the larger 563-acre Wickiup Hill Nature Area.

Today, the Natural Area boasts a variety of habitats such as wetland, prairie, woodland and savanna. Along with natural interests like the Indian Mounds and several miles of trails, people can also come to visit the wide range of exhibits on display in the Outdoor Learning Center, including Native American and archaeological exhibits, interactive prairie, wetland and woodland exhibits, live native reptile and fish exhibits, and a bird-viewing area which includes a cascading waterfall over limestone outcroppings.

INHF's Role
The Linn County Conservation Board and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation shared the goal of protecting an extensive wildlife area along the river. Over time, floodplain lands between Cedar Rapids and Palo that became available were purchased and restored to wetland wildlife habitat. INHF assisted LCCB with 14 land protection projects in a decade (1986 to 1995), adding more than 1,300 acres!  Local volunteers and Kirkwood Community College students helped to raise funds and community interest in this restoration effort.

Location
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center (Wickiup Hill Natural Area)
10260 Morris Hills Road in Toddville

Visitor Info
Driving Directions
http://www.linncountyparks.com/Attraction.asp?AttractionID=37

Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce
(319) 398-5317
chamber@cedarrapids.org

Featured Event
Visitors joined the Linn County Conservation Board (LCCB) staff and other experts in discovering and learning about Native American culture and archaeology. Guests enjoyed Native American foods and explored the diverse areas once used by these peoples at the Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area on Archaeology Day. Other events dot Wickiup Hill's calendar, and you can hike the trails on your own.

The theme for Iowa's Archeology Month in 2004 was Paleo-Indians, the group that roamed Iowa about 10,000 years ago during the most recent ice age. In keeping with that theme, educational speakers of the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, gave a mid-afternoon presentation titled "Northboro Giant Sloth Excavations." This program described findings at an excavation in southwest Iowa of a giant sloth, a 3-ton creature that roamed Iowa during the Paleo-Indian Period.

To learn what's going on now at Wickiup Hill, click here.

Partners: Linn County Conservation Board and the Office of the State Archaeologist