List of Iowa state parks facts for kids
Iowa is home to many amazing state parks and recreation areas! These special places are perfect for exploring nature, having adventures, and learning about the history of the state. There are 63 of these parks in Iowa, and they are managed in two main ways. Some are looked after by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is a state agency. Others are managed by the local county where they are located.
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Discover Iowa's State Parks!
Iowa's DNR-managed state parks offer tons of fun activities and unique sights. From hiking through ancient forests to fishing in beautiful lakes, there's something for everyone. Many of these parks were built or improved by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) a long time ago, which means they have cool historic structures too!
| Park Name | County | Nearby City | Size | Year Opened | Main Water Feature | Cool Things to See or Do | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acres | ha | ||||||
| Ambrose A. Call State Park | Kossuth | Algona | 130 | 53 | 1925 | Des Moines River | Explore wooded hills and a rebuilt log cabin, just like the first one in the county from 1854! |
| Backbone State Park | Delaware | Strawberry Point | 2000 | 809 | 1919 | Maquoketa River, Backbone Lake | See a huge rock ridge, up to 80 feet (24 m) high! There's also a lake for fun and a museum about the CCC. |
| Badger Creek State Recreation Area | Madison | Van Meter | 1162 | 470 | Badger Creek Lake | Enjoy fishing on a 276-acre (112 ha) lake not far from Des Moines. | |
| Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park | Warren | Indianola | 222 | 90 | 2002 | Banner Lakes | Great for fishing and mountain biking on land that used to be a coal mine! |
| Beed's Lake State Park | Franklin | Hampton | 319 | 129 | 1934 | Beed's Lake | This park has a 99-acre (40 ha) lake and a 170-foot (52 m) causeway built by the CCC. |
| Bellevue State Park | Jackson | Bellevue | 770 | 312 | Mississippi River | Located on high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, with a nature center and a butterfly garden. | |
| Big Creek State Park | Polk | Polk City | 3550 | 1437 | Big Creek Lake | Surrounds a huge 866-acre (350 ha) lake, originally built to help control floods. | |
| Black Hawk State Park | Sac | Lake View | 86 | 35 | 1935 | Black Hawk Lake | This park is on the shore of the southernmost glacial lake in Iowa. |
| Brushy Creek State Recreation Area | Webster | Lehigh | 6500 | 2630 | Des Moines River, Brushy Creek Reservoir | One of Iowa's biggest outdoor recreation spots, with a 690-acre (279 ha) lake. | |
| Cedar Rock State Park | Buchanan | Quasqueton | 423 | 171 | 1981 | Wapsipinicon River | You can tour a unique house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright! |
| Clear Lake State Park | Cerro Gordo | Clear Lake | 55 | 22 | 1924 | Clear Lake | Right on the south shore of the big 3,643-acre (1,474 ha) Clear Lake. |
| Dolliver Memorial State Park | Webster | Lehigh | 600 | 243 | 1925 | Des Moines River | See amazing tall river bluffs and narrow, winding ravines. |
| Elinor Bedell State Park | Dickinson | Spirit Lake | 80 | 32 | 1998 | East Okoboji Lake | A great place to access one of the beautiful Iowa Great Lakes. |
| Elk Rock State Park | Marion | Knoxville | 850 | 344 | 1978 | Lake Red Rock | This park is on Iowa's largest body of water, Lake Red Rock. |
| Emerson Bay State Recreation Area | Dickinson | Milford | 12 | 5 | West Okoboji Lake | Another spot to enjoy the amazing Iowa Great Lakes. | |
| Fairport State Recreation Area | Muscatine | Muscatine | 17 | 7 | Mississippi River | Offers fun water activities on the Mississippi River. | |
| Fort Atkinson State Preserve | Winneshiek | Fort Atkinson | 5 | 2 | 1968 | None | Explore the remains of an old U.S. Army fort from the 1840s. |
| Fort Defiance State Park | Emmet | Estherville | 221 | 89 | 1930 | None | This park remembers a fort built to protect Iowa during a conflict in 1862. |
| Geode State Park | Henry | Danville | 1641 | 664 | Skunk River, Lake Geode | Features a 187-acre (76 ha) lake and a display of geodes, which are Iowa's state rock! | |
| George Wyth Memorial State Park | Black Hawk | Waterloo | 1200 | 486 | 1940 | Cedar River and several lakes | A natural oasis right within the Waterloo – Cedar Falls area. |
| Green Valley State Park | Union | Creston | 990 | 401 | Green Valley Lake | Surrounds a 390-acre (158 ha) lake, perfect for recreation. | |
| Gull Point State Park | Dickinson | Milford | 195 | 79 | 1933 | West Okoboji Lake | A beautiful natural area on one of the famous Iowa Great Lakes. |
| Honey Creek State Park | Appanoose | Moravia | 828 | 335 | Rathbun Lake | Offers outdoor fun on the north shore of the huge 11,000-acre (4,452 ha) Rathbun Lake. | |
| Honey Creek Resort State Park | Appanoose | Moravia | 828 | 335 | 2008 | Rathbun Lake | This park has both outdoor activities and cool amenities like a lodge, cabins, a golf course, and an indoor water park! |
| Lacey-Keosauqua State Park | Van Buren | Keosauqua | 1653 | 670 | 1921 | Des Moines River | Protects ancient Indian mounds and a 30-acre (12 ha) lake on a bend of the Des Moines River. |
| Lake Ahquabi State Park | Warren | Indianola | 770 | 312 | 1936 | Lake Ahquabi | Surrounds a 115-acre (47 ha) lake. Its name means "resting place" in the Fox language. |
| Lake Anita State Park | Cass | Anita | 1062 | 430 | 1961 | Lake Anita | Surrounds a 171-acre (69 ha) lake, great for recreation. |
| Lake Darling State Park | Washington | Brighton | 1387 | 561 | 1950 | Lake Darling | Named after a famous conservationist, this park has a 171-acre (69 ha) lake. |
| Lake Keomah State Park | Mahaska | Oskaloosa | 366 | 148 | 1934 | Lake Keomah | Surrounds an 83-acre (34 ha) lake, perfect for outdoor fun. |
| Lake Macbride State Park | Johnson | Solon | 2810 | 1137 | 1937 | Lake Macbride, Coralville Lake | Borders an 812-acre (329 ha) lake, great for boating and other water sports. |
| Lake Manawa State Park | Pottawattamie | Council Bluffs | 1529 | 619 | Lake Manawa | Offers boating on a 772-acre (312 ha) lake, formed by the Missouri River after a big flood in 1881. | |
| Lake of Three Fires State Park | Taylor | Bedford | 1155 | 467 | 1935 | Lake of Three Fires | Surrounds an 85-acre (34 ha) lake, named for a historic meeting of three Native American tribes. |
| Lake Wapello State Park | Davis | Drakesville | 1150 | 465 | Lake Wapello | Surrounds a 289-acre (117 ha) lake, offering many recreational opportunities. | |
| Ledges State Park | Boone | Boone | 1200 | 486 | 1924 | Des Moines River, Pea's Creek | Features a 100-foot (30 m) deep sandstone gorge with cool rock formations that look like ledges! |
| Lewis and Clark State Park | Monona | Onawa | 176 | 71 | Blue Lake | This park marks where the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in 1804. See a replica of their keelboat on a 220-acre (89 ha) lake! | |
| Lower Gar State Recreation Area | Dickinson | Arnolds Park | 7 | 3 | Lower Gar Lake | Provides public access to one of the beautiful Iowa Great Lakes. | |
| Maquoketa Caves State Park | Jackson | Maquoketa | 323 | 131 | 1921 | Raccoon Creek | Explore 13 amazing caves, some with lights and walkways, others in their natural state. |
| Marble Beach State Recreation Area | Dickinson | Orleans | 64 | 26 | Spirit Lake | This park has the biggest campground in the popular Iowa Great Lakes area. | |
| McIntosh Woods State Park | Cerro Gordo | Ventura | 62 | 25 | 1943 | Clear Lake | The best place to launch your boat on the 3,643-acre (1,474 ha) Clear Lake. |
| Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center | Dubuque | Dubuque | 1387 | 561 | 1981 | Mississippi River | See a monument to Julien Dubuque, the first European settler in Iowa, who received land and mining rights from Spain in 1796. |
| Mini-Wakan State Park | Dickinson | Spirit Lake | 20 | 8 | Spirit Lake | Located on the north shore of Iowa's largest natural lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. | |
| Nine Eagles State Park | Decatur | Davis City | 1119 | 453 | Nine Eagles Lake | Features a 64-acre (26 ha) lake and beautiful surrounding woods. | |
| Okamanpedan State Park | Emmet | Dolliver | 19 | 8 | Okamanpeedan Lake | Offers fishing and boating on a lake that sits right on the Iowa – Minnesota border. | |
| Palisades-Kepler State Park | Linn | Mt. Vernon | 840 | 340 | 1922 | Cedar River | See dramatic river bluffs and deep ravines in a spot that used to be a resort in the early 1900s. |
| Pikes Peak State Park | Clayton | McGregor | 970 | 393 | 1935 | Mississippi River | Features a stunning 500-foot (152 m) river bluff, named by explorer Zebulon Pike. |
| Pikes Point State Park | Dickinson | Spirit Lake | 15 | 6 | West Okoboji Lake | One of the most popular swimming beaches in the amazing Iowa Great Lakes area. | |
| Pilot Knob State Park | Hancock | Forest City | 528 | 214 | 1923 | Pilot Knob Lake, Dead Man's Lake | Climb an observation tower built by the CCC on Iowa's second-tallest point! It also has Iowa's only sphagnum bog. |
| Pine Lake State Park | Hardin | Eldora | 585 | 237 | Iowa River, Upper and Lower Pine Lakes | Enjoy two lakes surrounded by very old, 250-year-old eastern white pine trees. | |
| Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area | Linn | Palo | 1927 | 780 | Pleasant Creek Lake | Surrounds a 410-acre (166 ha) lake, located between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. | |
| Prairie Rose State Park | Shelby | Harlan | 661 | 267 | 1962 | Prairie Rose Lake | Surrounds a 218-acre (88 ha) lake, great for outdoor activities. |
| Preparation Canyon State Park | Monona | Moorhead | 344 | 139 | None | Preserves a part of the unique Loess Hills, on the site of a town founded in 1853. | |
| Red Haw State Park | Lucas | Chariton | 649 | 263 | Red Haw Lake | Surrounds a 72-acre (29 ha) lake, perfect for recreation. | |
| Rice Lake State Park | Winnebago | Lake Mills | 15 | 6 | Rice Lake | Right next to a 1,200-acre (486 ha) lake, offering great views and activities. | |
| Rock Creek State Park | Jasper | Kellogg | 1697 | 687 | 1952 | Rock Creek Lake | Surrounds a 602-acre (244 ha) lake, great for all kinds of water fun. |
| Springbrook State Park | Guthrie | Yale | 920 | 372 | 1926 | Middle Raccoon River | Features a special education center, a 17-acre (7 ha) lake, and places for public hunting. |
| Stone State Park | Woodbury and Plymouth | Sioux City | 1069 | 433 | 1935 | Big Sioux River | Protects a natural part of the amazing Loess Hills. |
| Templar State Recreation Area | Dickinson | Spirit Lake | 10 | 4 | Spirit Lake | Provides a calm lagoon, perfect for launching boats on the Iowa Great Lakes. | |
| Trapper's Bay State Park | Dickinson | Lake Park | 57 | 23 | Silver Lake | Offers more public recreation space near the beautiful Iowa Great Lakes region. | |
| Twin Lakes State Park | Calhoun | Rockwell City | 15 | 6 | North Twin Lakes | Has two day-use areas on a 453-acre (183 ha) natural lake. | |
| Union Grove State Park | Tama | Gladbrook | 282 | 114 | 1938 | Union Grove Lake | Surrounds a 110-acre (45 ha) lake, great for recreation. |
| Viking Lake State Park | Montgomery | Stanton | 1000 | 405 | Viking Lake | Protects natural areas around a 110-acre (45 ha) lake. | |
| Volga River State Recreation Area | Fayette | Fayette | 5500 | 2226 | Volga River, Frog Hollow Lake | Offers wildlife habitats and many recreation options along a river with limestone bluffs and old steel bridges. | |
| Walnut Woods State Park | Polk | West Des Moines | 250 | 101 | Raccoon River | Preserves a forest area within the Des Moines area, with the largest group of black walnut trees in North America! | |
| Wapsipinicon State Park | Jones | Anamosa | 390 | 158 | 1923 | Wapsipinicon River, Dutch Creek | Features rocky bluffs with caves and crevices, a golf course, and a historic steel bridge from 1877. |
| Waubonsie State Park | Fremont | Sidney | 1247 | 505 | 1926 | Lake Virginia | Shows off the unique hills of the Loess Hills and has rental facilities from an old Girl Scout camp. |
| Wildcat Den State Park | Muscatine | Muscatine | 423 | 171 | Pine Creek | Features 75-foot (23 m) cliffs, cool rock formations, and historic buildings, including an old gristmill from 1848. | |
| Wilson Island State Recreation Area | Harrison | Missouri Valley | 547 | 221 | Missouri River | Shows off a forest on what used to be a sandbar island, named after a former governor. | |
County-Managed Parks
Besides the parks managed by the state, some state parks are looked after by local county conservation boards. These parks also offer great opportunities to enjoy Iowa's natural beauty!
| Park Name | County | Nearby City |
|---|---|---|
| Bobwhite State Park | Wayne | Allerton |
| Cold Springs State Park | Cass | Lewis |
| Crystal Lake State Park | Hancock | Crystal Lake |
| Eagle Lake State Park | Hancock | Britt |
| Echo Valley State Park | Fayette | West Union |
| Frank A. Gotch State Park | Humboldt | Dakota City |
| Heery Woods State Park | Butler | Clarksville |
| Kearny State Park | Palo Alto | Emmetsburg |
| Lake Cornelia State Park | Wright | Cornelia |
| Lake Icaria State Park | Adams | Corning |
| Margo Frankel State Park | Polk | Saylorville |
| Mill Creek State Park | O'Brien | Paullina |
| Oak Grove State Park | Sioux | Hawarden |
| Oakland Mills State Park | Henry | Oakland Mills |
| Pammel State Park | Madison | Winterset |
| Sharon Bluffs State Park | Appanoose | Centerville |
| Spring Lake State Park | Greene | Grand Junction |
| Swan Lake State Park | Carroll | Carroll |
| Three Mile Lake State Park | Union | Creston |
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State-managed parks
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County-managed parks
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List of Iowa state parks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.