Lake Iowa Park offers a quiet, safe and beautifully-maintained campground that includes 120 rocked pads with electricity, showers and a dump station. There are water hydrants with rural water spread throughout the campground to fill your camper tanks. Tent areas are also available. No reservations for camping, it is all first come first served. The 97 acre lake supports Large Mouth Bass, Red ear Sunfish, White and Black Crappie, and Catfish. A boat ramp with parking area, fish cleaning station and restroom are provided. There is a no-wake/no wave rescriction on the lake. Picnic areas include seven shelter houses that overlook Lake Iowa. The Roundhouse is an enclosed facility with outside BBQ grills available. The remaining open air shelters include grills, bathroom facilties, water, electricity and some playground equipment. All shelters may be reserved in advance. Beach and swimming areas are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. (Swim at your own risk) Hiking trails connect the shelter houses and wind around the lake through native prairies and woodlands.
The Lake Iowa Nature Center opened in 2010, and is located just past the main entrance to the park. The nature center boasts two large open areas for programs and displays as well as a lofted children's area, a library, a full kitchen in the lower level, storage rooms, and ICCB staff offices. Both levels of the nature center are available to rent for weddings, graduation parties, family reunions, and other special events. Please call for more information regarding rental policies. A large butterfly garden is located in front of and on the east side of the nature center. Many butterflies, other insects, and even hummingbirds can be spotted while the plants are in bloom. A trail from the patio behind the nature center leads to the newly constructed bird observation blind. Visitors can sit in the fully enclosed blind to spot goldfinches, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, chickadees and many other native birds. In fall 2011, construction began on a Nature Explore Playscape, located on the east side of the building, just past the butterfly garden. Please see our news section for more information about the project.
Location
Directions to Lake Iowa Park is Exit 211 off of Interstate I-80, head South towards Millersburg. You will come to a four way stop which will be 230th street, turn West then go until the next available left which will be G Ave and we are down about 3 miles on the East side of the road.
Features
Naturalist programs are scheduled throughout the year. Visit the 'events' section for the most up-to-date program information. Program calendars are also included in our quarterly newsletter, available in our 'Electronic Newsletter Archive'. Special programs for scouts, 4-H, and other groups are available by request. Please contact the naturalist at least 2 weeks prior to your preferred date by calling (319) 655-8466 or e-mailing
lstephens@co.iowa.ia.us
Operating Hours & Seasons
Lake Iowa is open from 6 am in the morning to 10:30 pm for all non campers. The campground is open all year, but the water will be turned off from mid-October until spring.