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Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

 
Boating Boating at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Boating

Motorboats are allowed at Brown’s Lake—Bigelow Park and Snyder Bend Park.

Both have concrete boat access. Non-motorized boats or electric trolling motors are allowed at Little Sioux Park, Southwood Conservation Area and Midway Park.

Stop Aquatic Invaders. Thoroughly clean your boat and trailer and remove any aquatic vegetation to control spread of invasive nuisance species.

Camping Camping at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Family campgrounds are managed on a first-come, first-served basis and provide sites for six or fewer people. Sites cannot be reserved. Camping fees are paid by self-registration in the campgrounds. The camping season is from May 1st - October 31st.

Campground amenities vary from primitive to 50 amp electrical service, area water hydrants and dump stations. All campgrounds have access to modern restroom and shower facilities. 

CAMPING FEES 
$17/day - Non-Electrical; 
$25/day - Electrical & Water; 
$5/bundle - Firewood

Campgrounds are available at:

Firewood Note: Please use local firewood whenever possible. This is to control the spread of insect pests including the Emerald Ash Borer and Gypsy Moth. See more information at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/forestry/eab_firewoodlaw.pdf
 
Canoeing & Kayaking Canoeing & Kayaking at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Launch your canoe or kayak at one of our county park lakes at Southwood Conservation Area, Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park, Snyder Bend Park, Midway Park or Little Sioux Park. River access points are available along the Little Sioux River at Copeland Park and Walling Access near Correctionville and Little Sioux Park. Some accesses may be difficult to maneuver at times due to high water, eroded banks and mud.

Parks that include Canoeing

Facility Rentals Facility Rentals at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Enclosed picnic shelters are available for rental in Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park and Little Sioux Park. Shelters have picnic tables and grills on site. Many of the areas also offer horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, open spaces and a swimming beach. To reserve a shelter, contact the resource manager in the respective park area. Shelter Reservations begin on the first working day after January 1st each Calendar Year. Open shelters are found throughout the parks and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Shelter fees are as follows:
Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park: $​60.00 - 1/2 day and $​120.00 - Full day

Little Sioux Park: $75.00 - 1/2 day and $150.00 - Full day

Cabins are found at Little Sioux Park and Snyder Bend Park.

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center has meeting rooms for rent.

Video Tours:
Fishing Fishing at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

 

Brown’s Lake—Bigelow Park– Fish species: northern pike, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead; 580 acre lake; fair shoreline access; fishing dock; fish cleaning station

Little Sioux Park - Fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish; 13 acre lake; good shoreline access; fish cleaning station

The Little Sioux River at Little Sioux Park, Copeland Park and Walling Access have fair public access, and Inkpaduta Access has poor access.

Shagbark Hills – Fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish; One-acre lake with fair shoreline access

Midway Park – Fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish; good shoreline access

Snyder Bend Park - Fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie; 400 acre lake; fair shoreline access; fish cleaning station; handicap fishing access

Southwood Conservation Area – Fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish; 14 acre lake; fair shoreline access

Regulations - For a complete listing of fishing regulations, visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website for additional information.

Fishing Licenses are for sale at Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park, Little Sioux Park and Southwood Conservation Area.
Other Activities Other Activities at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Brown's Lake is managed by the DNR. It is a natural oxbow of the Missouri River, formed when the river was free to meander across the river valley. Brown's Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, northern pike and channel catfish. A fishing dock and boat ramp provides access to the lake, which is a popular area for recreational boaters and water skiers as well.

A public hunting and DNR wildlife management area is located on the west side of Brown's Lake. Park facilities are open and pressurized water systems are available May 1 through October 31.

Picnicking Picnicking at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake
Picnic sites are available at:

Open shelters are found at Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park, Snyder Bend Park, Fowler Forest Preserve or Little Sioux Park. Open shelters cannot be reserved.

Enclosed picnic shelters at Little Sioux Park and Brown's Lake—Bigelow Park can be rented for a fee. Call the Resource Manager in each respective park to rent the enclosed shelters. See Facility Rentals.

Swimming Swimming at Bigelow Park - Brown's Lake

Swimming beaches are found at Brown’s Lake—Bigelow Park and Little Sioux Park. Life guards are not present. Swim at your own risk. Swimming beaches are open Memorial weekend through Labor Day from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

 
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