Cherokee

Nestor Stiles Prairie State Preserve is a 9.5-acre area featuring a small tallgrass prairie. . The prairie was given to the Iowa Conservation Commission in 1981 by Marguerite S. Whiting in honor of her father, Nestor Stiles, a banker and a conservationist who protected several natural areas throughout the county. The prairie was dedicated as a biological state preserve, also in 1981.The level to gently rolling topography of the area is typical of the Northwest Iowa Plains landform region, which was last glaciated 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. The prairie, located on a knoll in the southwest corner of the preserve, contains many prairie species, including big bluestem, porcupine grass, prairie dropseed, compass plant, white false indigo, and New Jersey tea. The lowland area along a stream is dominated by Jerusalem artichoke and willows.

No Hunting, No foraging, No collection of natural materials.

Location

5648 V. Ave
Aurelia, Ia 51005

It is located seven miles southeast of Cherokee and thirteen miles northwest of Storm Lake in eastern Cherokee County.

Operating Hours & Seasons