Iowa State Parks

Ambrose A. Call State ParkKossuth CountyAlgona130531925Des Moines RiverFeatures heavily wooded hills and a reconstructed log cabin on the site of the first cabin in Kossuth County, built in 1854 by settler Ambrose A. Call.
Backbone State ParkDelaware CountyStrawberry Point2,0008101919Maquoketa River, Backbone LakeFeatures a rock ridge up to 80 feet (24 m) high, a recreational reservoir, and a museum on the Civilian Conservation Corps in Iowa.
Badger Creek State Recreation AreaMadison CountyVan Meter1,162470 Badger Creek LakeFeatures a 276-acre (112 ha) fishing lake outside Des Moines.
Banner Lakes at Summerset State ParkWarren CountyIndianola222902002Banner LakesProvides fishing and mountain biking opportunities on the site of a rehabilitated open-pit coal mine.
Beed’s Lake State ParkFranklin CountyHampton3191291934Beed’s LakeSurrounds a 99-acre (40 ha) reservoir crossed by a 170-foot (52 m) causeway built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Bellevue State ParkJackson CountyBellevue770310 Mississippi RiverComprises two units on high river bluffs, with a nature center and butterfly garden.
Big Creek State ParkPolk CountyPolk City3,5501,440 Big Creek LakeSurrounds an 866-acre (350 ha) recreational reservoir originally created as a flood control project.
Black Hawk State ParkSac CountyLake View86351935Black Hawk LakeComprises shoreline on the southernmost glacial lake in Iowa.
Brushy Creek State Recreation AreaWebster CountyLehigh6,5002,600 Des Moines River, Brushy Creek ReservoirForms one of the state’s largest public outdoor recreation properties, with a 690-acre (280 ha) reservoir.
Cedar Rock State ParkBuchanan CountyQuasqueton4231711981Wapsipinicon RiverOffers tours of a Frank Lloyd Wright house built in 1950 in his Usonian style.
Clear Lake State ParkCerro Gordo CountyClear Lake55221924Clear LakeAbuts the south shore of 3,643-acre (1,474 ha) Clear Lake.
Dolliver Memorial State ParkWebster CountyLehigh6002401925Des Moines RiverShowcases tall river bluffs and narrow ravines.
Elinor Bedell State ParkDickinson CountySpirit Lake80321998East Okoboji LakeProvides public access to one of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Elk Rock State ParkMarion CountyKnoxville8503401978Lake Red RockComprises two parcels on Iowa’s largest body of water.
Emerson Bay State Recreation AreaDickinson CountyMilford124.9 West Okoboji LakeProvides public access to one of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Fairport State Recreation AreaMuscatine CountyMuscatine176.9 Mississippi RiverProvides water recreation opportunities 6 miles (9.7 km) from Wildcat Den State Park.
Fort Atkinson State PreserveWinneshiek CountyFort Atkinson52.01968NoneInterprets the remains of a U.S. Army frontier fort manned from 1840-1849 to monitor the resettled Ho-Chunk tribe.
Fort Defiance State ParkEmmet CountyEstherville221891930NoneCommemorates the site of a fort built to protect the Iowa border during the Dakota War of 1862.
Geode State ParkHenry CountyDanville1,641664 Skunk River, Lake GeodeFeatures a 187-acre (76 ha) recreational reservoir and a display of geodes, the Iowa state rock.
George Wyth Memorial State ParkBlack Hawk CountyWaterloo1,2004901940Cedar River and several lakesProtects a natural area within the Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area.
Green Valley State ParkUnion CountyCreston990400 Green Valley LakeSurrounds a 390-acre (160 ha) recreational reservoir.
Gull Point State ParkDickinson CountyMilford195791933West Okoboji LakeProtects a natural area on one of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Honey Creek State ParkAppanoose CountyMoravia828335 Rathbun LakeProvides outdoor recreation opportunities on the north shore of 11,000-acre (4,500 ha) Rathbun Lake.
Honey Creek Resort State ParkAppanoose CountyMoravia8283352008Rathbun LakeMixes outdoor recreation with higher-end amenities such as a lodge, luxury cabins, golf course, and indoor water park.
Lacey-Keosauqua State ParkVan Buren CountyKeosauqua1,6536691921Des Moines RiverProtects Indian mounds and a 30-acre (12 ha) lake on a bend of the Des Moines River.
Lake Ahquabi State ParkWarren CountyIndianola7703101936Lake AhquabiSurrounds a 115-acre (47 ha) recreational reservoir named “resting place” in the Fox language.
Lake Anita State ParkCass CountyAnita1,0624301961Lake AnitaSurrounds a 171-acre (69 ha) recreational reservoir.
Lake Darling State ParkWashington CountyBrighton1,3875611950Lake DarlingHonors Ding Darling, two-time Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning winner and early conservationist, with a 171-acre (69 ha) recreational reservoir.
Lake Keomah State ParkMahaska CountyOskaloosa3661481934Lake KeomahSurrounds an 83-acre (34 ha) recreational reservoir.
Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson CountySolon2,8101,1401937Lake Macbride, Coralville LakeBorders an 812-acre (329 ha) recreational reservoir.
Lake Manawa State ParkPottawattamie CountyCouncil Bluffs1,529619 Lake ManawaProvides boating opportunities in the Omaha – Council Bluffs metropolitan area on a 772-acre (312 ha) lake created by the Missouri River changing course after the Great Flood of 1881.
Lake of Three Fires State ParkTaylor CountyBedford1,1554671935Lake of Three FiresSurrounds an 85-acre (34 ha) recreational reservoir named for a Council of Three Fires meeting once held there by three Native American tribes.
Lake Wapello State ParkDavis CountyDrakesville1,150470 Lake WapelloSurrounds a 289-acre (117 ha) recreational reservoir.
Ledges State ParkBoone CountyBoone1,2004901924Des Moines River, Pea’s CreekShowcases a 100-foot (30 m) deep sandstone gorge with concretions jutting from its side like ledges.
Lewis and Clark State ParkMonona CountyOnawa17671 Blue LakeCommemorates the site where the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on August 10, 1804; with a replica of their keelboat on a 220-acre (89 ha) oxbow lake.
Lower Gar State Recreation AreaDickinson CountyArnolds Park72.8 Lower Gar LakeProvides public access to one of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Maquoketa Caves State ParkJackson CountyMaquoketa3231311921Raccoon CreekPreserves 13 caves, some developed with lighting and walkways and others in a natural state.
Marble Beach State Recreation AreaDickinson CountyOrleans6426 Spirit LakeProvides the largest campground in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
McIntosh Woods State ParkCerro Gordo CountyVentura62251943Clear LakeProvides the primary boating access to 3,643-acre (1,474 ha) Clear Lake.
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature CenterDubuque CountyDubuque1,3875611981Mississippi RiverFeatures a monument to Julien Dubuque, the first European settler in Iowa, and recipient of a 1796 land and mining grant from then-owner the Governor of Spain.
Mini-Wakan State ParkDickinson CountySpirit Lake208.1 Spirit LakeLies on the north shore of the state’s largest natural lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Nine Eagles State ParkDecatur CountyDavis City1,119453 Nine Eagles LakeFeatures a 64-acre (26 ha) recreational reservoir and surrounding woods.
Okamanpedan State ParkEmmet CountyDolliver197.7 Okamanpeedan LakeProvides fishing and boating access on the south shore of a lake on the Iowa – Minnesota border.
Palisades-Kepler State ParkLinn CountyMt. Vernon8403401922Cedar RiverFeatures dramatic river bluffs and deep ravines on the site of an early 20th Century resort.
Pikes Peak State ParkClayton CountyMcGregor9703901935Mississippi RiverFeatures a 500-foot (150 m) river bluff named by Zebulon Pike several years before documenting Pikes Peak in Colorado.
Pikes Point State ParkDickinson CountySpirit Lake156.1 West Okoboji LakeOffers one of the most popular swimming beaches in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Pilot Knob State ParkHancock CountyForest City5282141923Pilot Knob Lake, Dead Man’s LakeFeatures an observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Iowa’s second-tallest point, and the state’s only sphagnum bog.
Pine Lake State ParkHardin CountyEldora585237 Iowa River, Upper and Lower Pine LakesEncompasses two lakes surrounded by 250-year-old eastern white pines.
Pleasant Creek State Recreation AreaLinn CountyPalo1,927780 Pleasant Creek LakeSurrounds a 410-acre (170 ha) recreational reservoir located between the cities of Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.
Prairie Rose State ParkShelby CountyHarlan6612671962Prairie Rose LakeSurrounds a 218-acre (88 ha) recreational reservoir.
Preparation Canyon State ParkMonona CountyMoorhead344139 NonePreserves a section of the Loess Hills on the site of a town founded in 1853 by a Mormon splinter group led by Charles B. Thompson.
Red Haw State ParkLucas CountyChariton649263 Red Haw LakeSurrounds a 72-acre (29 ha) recreational reservoir.
Rice Lake State ParkWinnebago CountyLake Mills156.1 Rice LakeAbuts a 1,200-acre (490 ha) lake.
Rock Creek State ParkJasper CountyKellogg1,6976871952Rock Creek LakeSurrounds a 602-acre (244 ha) recreational reservoir.
Springbrook State ParkGuthrie CountyYale9203701926Middle Raccoon RiverFeatures a conservation education center, a rental retreat, a 17-acre (6.9 ha) lake, and public hunting areas.
Stone State ParkWoodbury and Plymouth CountiesSioux City1,0694331935Big Sioux RiverPreserves a natural section of the Loess Hills.
Templar State Recreation AreaDickinson CountySpirit Lake104.0 Spirit LakeProvides a sheltered lagoon for launching boats on the Iowa Great Lakes.
Trapper’s Bay State ParkDickinson CountyLake Park5723 Silver LakeOffers additional public recreation space on the periphery of the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Twin Lakes State ParkCalhoun CountyRockwell City156.1 North Twin LakesComprises two day-use areas on a 453-acre (183 ha) natural lake.
Union Grove State ParkTama CountyGladbrook2821141938Union Grove LakeSurrounds a 110-acre (45 ha) recreational reservoir.
Viking Lake State ParkMontgomery CountyStanton1,000400 Viking LakePreserves natural areas surrounding a 110-acre (45 ha) recreational reservoir.
Volga River State Recreation AreaFayette CountyFayette5,5002,200 Volga River, Frog Hollow LakeProvides wildlife habitat and extensive recreation options along a waterway featuring limestone bluffs and old steel bridges.
Walnut Woods State ParkPolk CountyWest Des Moines250100 Raccoon RiverPreserves a bottomland hardwood forest within the Des Moines metropolitan area featuring the largest stand of black walnut trees in North America.[24]
Wapsipinicon State ParkJones CountyAnamosa3901601923Wapsipinicon River, Dutch CreekFeatures rocky cave- and crevice-ridden bluffs, a nine-hole golf course, and an 1877 steel bridge that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Waubonsie State ParkFremont CountySidney1,2475051926Lake VirginiaShowcases unique Loess Hills topography, with rental facilities restored from a former Girl Scout camp.
Wildcat Den State ParkMuscatine CountyMuscatine423171 Pine CreekFeatures 75-foot (23 m) cliffs, rock formations, and several historic structures, including an 1848 gristmill that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wilson Island State Recreation AreaHarrison CountyMissouri Valley547221 Missouri RiverShowcases a bottomland hardwood forest on a former sandbar island named after former governor George A. Wilson.