At 1,670 feet above sea level, Hawkeye Point is the highest natural point in the state of Iowa. It ranks #42 among U.S. state high points, and it marked my 29th summit on this journey across America’s rooftops. While it’s not a lung-busting climb, it absolutely delivers in small-town charm and roadside character.

After wrapping up my adventure at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin, I set my sights west. Interstate 90 carried me through southern Minnesota with Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy playing in the background. The sky stretched wide. The road hummed. Road trip mode fully engaged.

Then, as I neared Blue Earth, Minnesota, I spotted a sign about a Green Giant.

Now, when it comes to roadside oddities, I’m all in.

Road trips are about the unexpected. So I keep the schedule loose. My motto? You never know if you’ll pass this way again — so why not seize the moment?

The Veggie Titan of Blue Earth

So, I took the exit.

Less than a mile south of the interstate stands the Jolly Green Giant statue, a towering 55-foot roadside icon in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Back in 1978, local radio host Paul Hedberg had a quirky tradition of handing out Green Giant vegetable samples to travelers he interviewed on his show, “Welcome Travelers.” Eventually, visitors began asking to see the Giant himself.

Instead of shrugging it off, the town leaned in.

Hedberg secured approval from the company president and raised $50,000 locally in just one week. By 1979, the Giant was standing tall on an eight-foot base, sporting size-78 shoes and instantly becoming a beloved attraction.

And honestly? It’s exactly the kind of detour that makes road-tripping fun.

Blue Earth also claims to be the birthplace of the ice cream sandwich. Sadly, there’s no 55-foot-tall version of that… yet.

55-foot-tall Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota standing above a welcome sign under a bright blue sky.

Photo: The 55-foot Veggie Titan – The Green Giant

Short and Sweet: Hawkeye Point

From one quirky stop to the next, I rolled into Hawkeye Point, Iowa’s highest natural point.

Located just under three miles from the Iowa–Minnesota border near the town of Sibley, the summit sits on county-owned land and is open year-round — free of charge. Access is simple. A short gravel road off Iowa Highway 60 leads you within steps of the high point.

And then comes the “grueling” climb.

All 40 feet of it.

No ropes required.

Stephen kneeling beside the Hawkeye Point granite marker reading 1,670 feet elevation on Sterler Farm in Iowa.Stephen standing on the Hawkeye Point summit mosaic in Iowa with directional signs, flagpole, and cornfields behind him.

Photos: Summit Selfie | Standing on the Summit Mosaic

Hawkeye Point roadside sign on Iowa Highway 60 marking Iowa’s highest elevation at 1,670 feet with cornfields and trees behind it.Gravel road lined with trees leading to Hawkeye Point summit area in rural northwest Iowa under a blue sky.

Photos: Entrance on Iowa Highway 60 | Gravel Road to the Summit

A Quiet Arrival

When I arrived, I had the place to myself. Wide sky. Open fields. Corn in every direction.

Eventually, a schoolteacher named Emily pulled up while I was exploring. We started chatting and swapped summit photos. She told me she had recently begun exploring more of Iowa and the surrounding states, realizing there’s more here than people often assume.

That’s something I’ve found again and again on this journey — every state has layers if you’re willing to look.

The Real High Point Story

Interestingly, Hawkeye Point wasn’t always recognized as Iowa’s highest point.

For years, nearby Ocheyedan Mound held the title. However, in 1971, the U.S. Geological Survey determined that Hawkeye Point stands 15 feet taller. With that, the crown officially shifted.

In 2008, Osceola County gave the summit a bit of polish. Today, you’ll find:

  • A granite Hawkeye Point marker
  • An Iowan mosaic
  • Directional signs pointing to the other 49 state high points
  • A grain silo with an observation deck
  • Historical farming displays and antique equipment
  • A small walk-through museum
  • A peaceful picnic area

It’s not dramatic. It’s not rugged.

But it is thoughtful.

Stone welcome marker at Hawkeye Point honoring Osceola County veterans surrounded by grass and landscaping.American Gothic-themed photo cut-out board at Hawkeye Point with silo and Iowa’s highest point sign in the background.

Photos: Welcome Sign | American Gothic Photo Cut-Out Board

Circular mosaic at Hawkeye Point marking Iowa’s highest elevation with state outline and directional compass design.Directional signposts at Hawkeye Point pointing toward the other 49 U.S. state high points with cornfields in the background.

Photos: Highpoint Mosaic | Signs Pointing to the Other 49 High Points

View from the Hawkeye Point silo observation deck overlooking the summit mosaic, flagpole, and expansive Iowa cornfields.Display board of U.S. state license plates from highpointers mounted at Hawkeye Point in Iowa.

Photos: View from the Silo Platform – Summit Below |
Highpointer License Plates

Red barn-style walk-through museum building at Hawkeye Point featuring the Wall of Recognition display.Metal silo-style picnic shelter with tables at Hawkeye Point overlooking Iowa farmland and cornfields.

Photos: Walk-Through Museum | Picnic Area

High Point Verification

Like all official state high points, I made sure to visit the recognized summit marker. The granite monument clearly designates Hawkeye Point as Iowa’s highest natural elevation.

There’s no confusion here. No competing markers. No debate.

Just a clean, simple summit.

And yes — I count it.

Why It Works

I’ve visited several lower-elevation high points where you simply drive up and stroll a few steps. Some feel forgettable.

Hawkeye Point feels different.

Because of the local pride.

Because of the details.

And because someone cared enough to build something meaningful around a patch of Iowa farmland.

Wide panoramic view of Hawkeye Point summit area with silo, red barn museum, summit mosaic, flagpole, benches, and cornfields in northwest Iowa.

Photo: Hawkeye Point Summit Complex – Silo, Museum, Mosaic & Endless Iowa Cornfields

Meanwhile, the drive itself remains part of the reward. Back roads offer something interstates never will — authenticity. They invite you to slow down. They remind you that adventure isn’t always about elevation gain.

Sometimes it’s about a 55-foot vegetable and a 40-foot walk.

Next up? North Dakota — with more quirky road-tripping through South Dakota and Minnesota along the way.

Have you visited Hawkeye Point?
And which roadside oddity has surprised you most?

Catch you on the summit!

Date of Summit: 9 July 2024

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