One of the best places in Siouxland for outdoor fun is Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. Read on for full details on this scenic Siouxland park:
What is Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve?
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is a 1500 acre park in North Sioux City,
South Dakota, on the peninsula between the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. The
land was once part of the homestead of Stephen Searls Adams, whose
grandaughters Mary and Maud Adams gifted the land to the state of South Dakota
in the 1980's.
Where is Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve?
The entrance to Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is at 272 Westshore
Drive, McCook Lake, South Dakota, just a couple minutes from downtown Sioux
City!
The Visitors Center
The Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Visitors Center is a great place to
start your trip. Inside the center, you'll find educational exhibits
highlighting the history of Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. This is
also the place to go for a modern restroom (there are vault toilets
elsewhere in the park), to grab a trail map, request a golf cart for
visitors who need mobility assistance, and chat with staff.
The Homestead
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is home to a number of historical
buildings, which visitors can admire from the exterior anytime the park is open, and which are open to visitors to enjoy inside during special events. They're also open for field trips!
The historical buildings on the Homestead grounds include:
- Lamont Country School
- Shay/Adams House
- Stavenger Lutheran Church
- Brusseau Cabin
Outdoor fun at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve has about 10 miles of crushed limestone
trails for hiking all year and cross-country skiing in winter, and the
preserve is known for excellent bird-watching. According to their website,
the grounds are home to more than 100 species of birds!
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve recently updated their playground to
make it safer, more fun, and more reflective of their dedication to
conservation. The resulting playground is adorable and definitely a kid favorite.
There is also an outdoor archery range, available by reservation and
occasionally home to archery instruction programs!
And during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
has had a variety of fun scavenger hunts throughout the park!
Sonny's Acres
Sonny's Acres is a working farm, allowing community members of all ages to
learn about animals in a hands-on environment! Some of the animals at
Sonny's Acres include the namesake donkey, plus a sheep, duck, and more!
Events at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve frequently hosts events, including free
historical and science-based educational events for kids, festivals like
Christmas at the Homestead, and community events like cross-country races
and charity 5k runs.
What to bring when visiting Adams Homestead with Kids
Based on our experience, I recommend bringing:
- Seasonally appropriate walking clothing (hiking boots not necessary)
- Sunscreen, hats, and water as there are a lot of sunny portions of the trails
- Diapering supplies, including a changing mat or blanket, as there are not changing tables available along the trails.
- Benadryl if your family has insect sting allergies--one of our kids actually got stung by a little bee when we stopped at the Missouri River overlook! Luckily she didn't have a serious allergic reaction, but we really should've had some Benadryl on hand in case she had!
- Bikes and bike trailers if you have them: the trails at Adams are wide and mostly flat and just generally a wonderful place to ride bikes! We saw several families having a blast with their kids on bikes while we were there walking.
- Carriers or jogging strollers: the limestone trails could definitely accommodate a jogging stroller, but might be a bit rocky for some standard strollers. The trails are long, so if you plan to go very far with little legs, you will likely want to bring your preferred means of transporting them once they tire out!
For more information
To find out more about Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, visit
their official website
from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, or connect with
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve on Facebook.
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