George Wyth Memorial State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Wyth Memorial State Park |
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 George Wyth Memorial State Park
Location in Iowa
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| Location | Black Hawk, Iowa, United States |
| Area | 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Established | 1940 |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
Welcome to George Wyth Memorial State Park! This amazing state park is located in Iowa, United States. It's a fantastic place to explore nature and have fun outdoors.
The park first opened in 1940. Back then, it was called "Josh Higgins Parkway." This name came from a popular radio character at the time. Later, in 1956, the park was renamed. It became George Wyth Memorial State Park to honor George Wyth. He was a well-known businessman and a big supporter of nature in Cedar Falls.
You can find the park near the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls. It has huge areas of woodland. These woods are home to many different kinds of animals. If you love birds, you might spot over 200 different types here! You can also see white-tailed deer all year long. The park is so important for wildlife that it's even called a National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary.
Camping Adventures
George Wyth State Park is a great spot for camping. The campground has 69 places where you can set up your tent or park your camper. These spots have modern showers and restrooms. There's also a special station to empty your trailer.
You can plan your camping trip ahead of time. It's possible to book a campsite using the park's reservation system. Some campsites are also available if you just show up. These are given out first-come, first-served.
Exploring the Trails
The park has many trails for you to enjoy. There are 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of paved trails. These are perfect for biking, in-line skating, or walking. These trails connect to a much bigger network. You can ride for 80-mile (130 km) through Waterloo and Cedar Falls!
If you prefer walking in nature, there are also 6 miles (9.7 km) of grassy hiking trails. In the winter, these trails are popular for other sports. You can go cross-country skiing or snowmobiling.
There's even a special bike route called the Lake-to-Lake State Park Bike Route. This route is about 50-mile (80 km) long. It connects George Wyth Memorial State Park to Pine Lake. This route mostly uses county roads and existing bike paths.
Fun on the Lakes and River
George Wyth State Park is special because it has several water areas. This means lots of water activities!
- Brinker Lake: This lake is 120 acres big. You can use power boats here.
- George Wyth Lake: This lake is 75 acres. It's a "no wake" lake, meaning boats must go slowly. It has a fishing pier that's easy for everyone to use. There are also special fishing jetties.
- Fisher Lake: This is a natural lake that covers 40 acres.
- Alice Wyth Lake: This lake is 60 acres. You can only use electric motors on boats here.
- The Cedar River: The park is also next to the Cedar River.
You can enjoy many water sports here. Sailboating and windsurfing are very popular. George Wyth beach is a favorite place for swimming in the area. The lakes and river are full of different kinds of fish. This makes it a great spot for fishing! You can find boat ramps on both the river and the lakes.
