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Thomas Mitchell Park


Camping at Thomas Mitchell Park Thomas Mitchell Park's campground rests in a scenic bend of Camp Creek at the foot of a tall, wooded ridge. This popular area offers 25 electric sites, 20 primitive sites, and 2 youth group camping areas. A modern showerhouse and dump station are open from mid-April to mid-October. Children's playground, hiking trails, fishing pond, and reconstructed prairie are nearby. Reservations for some campsites can be made using this website.
Education at Thomas Mitchell Park Polk County Conservation naturalists offer nature programs at Thomas Mitchell Park. To request a Nature News to learn about upcoming programs at Thomas Mitchell and other parks in Polk County send an email to pccb_info@polkcountyiowa.gov and put ADD TO MAILING LIST in the reference line.
Facility Rentals at Thomas Mitchell Park Two shelters are located near the ballfield and playground. Shelter are reservable from April 1 - October 31 or on a first come first serve basis. Reservations can be made using this website.
Fishing at Thomas Mitchell Park Fishing is now allowed at Thomas Mitchell Park Pond There is an 18" length limit on bass. The number of large fish still remains small until the DNR relocates larger fish from Fort Des Moines and/or Easter lake later this month. Major improvements to the pond have been taking place over the past next three years which have improved the quality of the woodlands and pond in Thomas Mitchell Park. Grant dollars have funded the installation of water control structures, construction and connection of new tile lines, reestablishment of native vegetation, pond dredging, fish restocking, and timber stand improvement. Click here for a more detailed timeline and project description.
Historic Visits at Thomas Mitchell Park Thomas Mitchell Park was named after Polk County’s earliest Anglo-American settler, Thomas Mitchell. In 1844, Mitchell obtained early access to the Iowa Territory from Captain Allen, commander of Fort Des Moines. In exchange, Mitchell built a bridge over Camp Creek which was often impassible to wagons traveling from Keokuk and Iowa City to Fort Des Moines. He also built the Apple Grove Inn, in what is today’s Thomas Mitchell Park. Thomas Mitchell was not only an innkeeper, but also a farmer, legislator, sheriff, and operator of a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Other Activities at Thomas Mitchell Park A ballfield is located near Shelter #1. It is available on a first come basis. A universally designed play area provides accessible walkways connecting the playground, restrooms, shelters, and ballfield. The playground has an average of 50 different activities and are constructed using recycled materials. Some of the activities include slides, swings, tunnels, sliding poles, cargo nets, ramps, bridges, lookout towers, and activity panels.
Picnicking at Thomas Mitchell Park Two picnic shelters are available by reservation or on a first come first serve basis. Both shelters have horseshoe pits, playground, ballfield and modern restrooms nearby. Numerous picnic tables are scattered throughout the park.
Trails & Hiking at Thomas Mitchell Park Devoite Trail: This .7 mile ridge top trail is part of the old stagecoach trail that stopped at Thomas Mitchell's cabin. Thomas Mitchell was the first permanent Anglo-American settler in Polk County. Difficulty: Moderate
Winter Activities at Thomas Mitchell Park Snowmobiling is allowed east of the creek.

Adair	Carroll	Decatur	Hamilton	Johnson	Marshall	Pocahontas	Union
Adams	Cass	Delaware	Hancock	Jones	Mills	Polk	Van Buren
Allamakee	Cedar	Des Moines	Hardin	Keokuk	Mitchell	Pottawattamie	Wapello
Appanoose	Cerro Gordo	Dickinson	Harrison	Kossuth	Monona	Poweshiek	Warren
Audubon	Cherokee	Dubuque	Henry	Lee	Monroe	Ringgold	Washington
Benton	Chickasaw	Emmet	Howard	Linn	Montgomery	Sac	Wayne
Black Hawk	Clarke	Fayette	Humboldt	Louisa	Muscatine	Scott	Webster
Boone	Clay	Floyd	Ida	Lucas	O'Brien	Shelby	Winnebago
Bremer	Clayton	Franklin	Iowa	Lyon	Osceola	Sioux	Winneshiek
Buchanan	Clinton	Fremont	Jackson	Madison	Page	Story	Woodbury
Buena Vista	Crawford	Greene	Jasper	Mahaska	Palo Alto	Tama	Worth
Butler	Dallas	Grundy	Jefferson	Marion	Plymouth	Taylor	Wright
Calhoun	Davis	Guthrie

CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED	Education	Other Activities
Biking	Equestrian Activities	Picnicking
Boating	Facility Rentals	Swimming
Cabins	Fishing	Trails & Hiking
Camping	Historic Visits	Winter Activities
Canoeing & Kayaking	Hunting