You gotta see this place: The Four-State Lookout

It isn’t often that you can take in the fall color in four states in one place. But you can by taking a road trip to the town of White Cloud in northeast Kansas.

At an elevated platform north of town, visitors can set eyes on four states — Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. The view is spectacular, especially at this time of the year when the landscape is splashed with the red, orange, yellow and red of changing leaves.

The scene is dominated by the Missouri River, which cuts through the region. But endless trees and the loess hills add to the beauty of the area. The hills are made up of yellow, brown and tan soil covering the debris left by the days of the glacial era.

The loess hills are characterized by steep hills in places, and a rolling landscape of timber. The area is so beautiful that it has been designated as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography.

Visitors also can explore some of the old back roads in the area, which also lead to awe-inspiring views, and visit the small town of White Cloud, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

The Four-State Lookout is located on Third Street in White Cloud, about 85 miles northwest of Kansas City.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 2:40 PM with the headline "You gotta see this place: The Four-State Lookout."