Page Feedback

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

Information

Building Hours Sundays & Mondays—Closed Tuesday–Saturday—9:00 AM–4:00 PM Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Hiking Trails are open daily from 4:30am-10:30pm.
712-258-0838
Free
Trails are pet friendly, but required to be on a leash at all times. Service animals only allowed in the building.
lat: 42.5433304 long: -96.4733219

The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is an outdoor educational facility located within Stone State Park in Sioux City. The Center is situated in the heart of the Loess Hills, making it a great destination for outdoor recreation. It is conveniently located just off Interstate 29 on State Road 12 along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail.

The 14,000 square foot building offers a variety of interactive exhibits that illustrate the natural and cultural resources of the Loess Hills. Visitors can learn about the native fauna by observing live fish, reptiles, and raptors that are housed at the Nature Center. In 2013, the outdoor Raptor House was constructed to accommodate a red-tailed hawk and a barred owl. A popular destination for kids is the Discovery Forest Nature Playscape, which is a short walk from the nature center. Kids can climb a tree fort, clamber over logs, create natural art, wade in the water, and simply enjoy playing in the outdoors.

Visitors can explore three miles of hiking trails that weave through wooded forests and over steep prairie ridges. These connect to more than 10 miles of trails within Stone State Park. The trails at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center are for pedestrian use only. Mountain biking and equestrian trails are located in Stone State Park.

The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center offers a variety of nature programs that are led by trained naturalists. These programs range from summer day camps for kids to bird-watching hikes for adults. The program schedule can be found online.

 

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Stone State Park
Stone State Park

Stone State Park, Talbot Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 0.91 Away

Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes RV and Camping

View Listing
Sioux City Railroad Museum
Sioux City Railroad Museum

3400 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109, USA
Distance: 1.11 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

272 Westshore Dr, North Sioux City, SD 57049, USA
Distance: 2.81 Away

General History Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes

View Listing
War Eagle Monument
War Eagle Monument

FGVW+GX Sioux City, Iowa, USA
Distance: 3.58 Away

Tribal Experiences

View Listing
Palmer Candy Company
Palmer Candy Company

405 Wesley Parkway, Sioux City, IA 51103, USA
Distance: 4.53 Away

Food and Drinks

View Listing
Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center
Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center

Sergeant Floyd River Museum, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 4.59 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Guided Tours LC Features

View Listing
Woodbury County Courthouse
Woodbury County Courthouse

620 Douglas St #210, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 4.68 Away

General History

View Listing
Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 4.70 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

View Listing
Corps of Discovery Welcome Center and Rest Area (Iowa)
Corps of Discovery Welcome Center and Rest Area (Iowa)

Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 4.76 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

View Listing
Sioux City Public Museum
Sioux City Public Museum

Sioux City Public Museum, 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 4.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Guided Tours

View Listing
Sweetwater Cafe
Sweetwater Cafe

600 4th St #320, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 4.96 Away

Food and Drinks Coffee Houses

View Listing
Sioux City Art Center
Sioux City Art Center

225 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 4.97 Away

Galleries and Venues

View Listing

Instagram Feed