S A U K  R A I L  T R A I L

A 33-mile-long multi-use hard surface recreational trail in the Carroll and Sac Counties. The North end of the trail winds through Lake View, Sac County countryside, Carnarvon and into the Carroll County countryside and communities of Breda, Maple River, and Carroll before reaching Swan Lake State Park.

The trail is great for running, walking, biking, wild life viewing and in the winter snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

All trail users, 18 years of age and above, are required to purchase a daily, annual, or lifetime permit.

D A I L Y  P E R M I T

            $2.00 per adult/per day

            A N N U A L  P E R M I T

            $15.00 per adult/per day

            L I F E T I M E  P E R M I T

            $250.00 per individual or $350.00 per married couple

G R O U P  P E R M I T

If you are planning on hosting an event using the Sauk Rail Trail be sure to contact Carroll or Sac County Conservation office. There will be a group permit that will need to be purchased prior to you event! This permit will cover all your event attendees that may not have a SRT permit yet.

D I S C O U N T E D  P E R M I T S

We offer discounted SRT permits to business who offer permits to their employees, their employee spouse and adult children. The discounted rate can be from $2.00 to $3.00 per permit! Contact Carroll County Conservation (712) 792-4614 or Sac County Conservation (712) 662-4530.

S N O W M O B I L E S

-          All users must have a Sauk Rail Trail permit

-          ATV/UTVs are PROHIBITED

-          There must be at least 4” of snow covering the trail

-          No studs are allowed on the tracks

-          Snowmobiles are allowed at Swan Lake State Park with a minimum of 4” of snow cover and must remain on the inside of the main road around Swan Lake

Contact Carroll County Conservation with any questions (712) 792-4614

All trail users must carry their permit

Park Rangers will patrol the trail at random and enforce trail rules and regulations

All pets must remain on a leash not longer than 6ft at all times & must immediately clean up after pets.

All motorized vehicles are prohibited from the Sauk Rail Trail (motorcycles, ATV’s, go-carts, vehicles, mopeds, etc.) unless a person has a handicap permit for the use of the vehicle.

B I S O N  V I E W  C A B I N

The Bison View Cabin at Swan Lake sleeps 8 comfortably. This cabin is ADA accessible, with one of the bedrooms and bathrooms being ADA accessible along with the kitchen. There will be a total of three bedrooms, two with queen size beds and one with a full-size bed along with a pull-out couch in the living room. Two full bathrooms will also be located in the Bison View cabin. The Kitchen is equipped with all the basic cookware and dinnerware.

It is situation on the south west side of the lake nearby the campground and fish house. There are sliding glass doors to the covered patio which has a charcoal grill. The backyard has picnic tables and a fire pit, firewood can be purchased through our campground host Memorial Day – Labor Day, please do not bring any wood from other counties. Tent camping is only allowed at the Swan Lake Campground.

D E E R  R I D G E  C A B I N

The Deer Ridge Cabin at Swan Lake sleeps 10 comfortably. It has two bedrooms on the main level with queen size beds, a full bathroom, kitchen, living room, and the gathering room. In the lower level of the cabin there is a room with two sets of bunkbeds and a full-size bed along with another full bathroom. To the East of the cabin is one full hook up camping site for you or your guest to park their camper.

It is situation on the north side of the lake with an amazing view year-round of Swan Lake. There are sliding glass doors to the patio which has a charcoal grill. The backyard has picnic tables and a fire pit, firewood can be purchased through our campground host Memorial Day – Labor Day, please do not bring out of county wood into Swan Lake State Park. Tent camping is only allowed at the Swan Lake Campground.

R E S E R V A T I O N S

To make a reservation please contact the Carroll County Conservation Office at (712) 792-4614 or email office@carrollcountyiowa.org.

Reservation are made on a rolling calendar basis (one year in advance).

R U L E S  &  R E G U L A T I O N S

- It is the renter’s responsibility to bring complete bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets and or sleeping bags), bath linens, toiletries, and kitchen linens.

- You are responsible for clean up of the cabin, there will be a check out list to be completed at arrival.

- Renter must be 21 years of age or older to rent the facility or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

- Park Hours are from 5:00am until 10:30pm, quite hours are enforced between 10:30pm and 5:00am

                -Swan Lake State Park closes at 10:30pm, this includes the roadway, all traffic through Swan Lake State Park after 10:30pm is monitored.

- Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6ft at all times or kenneled, NO PETS ALLOWED INSIDE ANY CCCB FACILITY. Park users must immediately clean up after their pets. Violators will be ticketed.

- Kegs are not allowed at any of Carroll County Conservation parks or facilities.

- You may decorate as long as all decorations are free standing and not fixed to any of the park furniture, sign posts, trees, or facility walls.

- Do not burn trash, there are dumpster located in the campground to dispose of any trash. Recycling is also located in the campground.

S W A N  L A K E  C A M P G R O U N D

This is the Carroll County’s largest and most diverse campground. Totaling over 115 campsites for campers of all levels, we offer full hook-up (water, electric, & sewer), electric & water sites, & non-electric sites. The Swan Lake Campground amenities include two shower house and restrooms, dump station, a gift shop & concession stand, shelter houses, boat rentals (paddleboats, kayaks, & canoes), and access to the Sauk Rail Trail.

All Carroll County Conservation campground have a 14-night maximum stay, 24 hours out before re-entering. Long term sites at Swan Lake State Park are allowed to exceed the 14-night maximum stay.

Every campsite has one picnic table and one fire ring, please do not take these items from other sites.

P R I C I N G

Full hook-up sites - $20.00 per night

Electric & water sites - $18.00 per night

Non-electric sites - $10.00 per night

Weekly Rate - $119.00 if stay 7 consecutive nights

Coupon Book - $119.00, 7 coupons per book

Dump Station - $3.00 per non registered camping unit

Shower - $4.00 per non registered camper

C A M P G R O U N D  H O S T

Carroll County Conservation Board have volunteered campground hosts at our campground Memorial Day through Labor Day. They are located in sites #29 & #34 and can answer many questions regarding our campground.

You may register with our campground host on duty or self register at one of our kiosk throughout the campground.

                H O U R S

                Monday through Thursday: 12:00pm – 8:30pm

                Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: 8:30am – 8:30pm

The Campground Host on duty can help you with our paddleboat, kayak, and canoe rentals Monday through Thursday (Friday, Saturday, Sunday please see our Gift Shop & Concession Stand), firewood and ice sales, and questions regarding the Swan Lake Campground. In addition, two Park Rangers live nearby, providing security to park visitors and campers.

FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE

All of Carroll County Conservation campgrounds are on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do not take any reservation for our campgrounds, including Swan Lake State Park Campground.

R U L E S  &  R E G U L A T I O N S

- All campers must register the day the enter the campground & have receipt posted at campsite

                - Registration envelope must be filled out in full

                - We do not accept state coupons – we are a State Park that is managed by Carroll County Conservation Board.

- Registered campers must be at least 18 years of age & at least 21 years of age if offering alcoholic beverages

- Park Hours are from 5:00am until 10:30pm, quite hours are enforced between 10:30pm and 5:00am

                -Swan Lake State Park closes at 10:30pm, this includes the roadway, all traffic through Swan Lake State Park after 10:30pm is monitored.

- Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6ft at all times or kenneled. Park users must immediately clean up after their pets. Violators will be ticketed.

T E N T  C A M P I N G

Tents are allowed in non-numbered sites only, however, tents accompanied by a trailer & paying $10.00 non-electric/tent fee would be allowed on the same numbered site. One tent for kids under the age of 18 is allowed with a larger tent at no additional charge.

                A trailer is defined as a unit that has the capability to use water, sewer, & electric hook ups.

L O N G – T E R M

Swan Lake Campground offers long-term camping in specific sites (#1 – #10, #21 –#28, #35, & #36). These are the only sites were you are allowed to stay longer than our maximum nightly stay of 14-nights, 24 hours out before re-entering. 

Dickson Timber has 12 electrical sites available for camping along with 8 equestrian sites. Horse corrals are also available!

The campground is self-registration, you are to register the day you arrive and have your receipt posted at your campsite. Registration envelopes can be found at the kiosk.

Tent camping is available and also self-registration.

We do not take any reservation for camping at the Dickson Timber campground, it is all first-come, first-serve basis.

Canoes, Kayaks, and Paddle Boats are all available for rent Memorial Day - Labor Day

$5 per hour or $20 per day per boat.

Monday - Thursday & Friday's until 2:00pm -- see campground host or Conservation office for rentals

Friday (2:00pm - 8:00pm) -- see concession stand, located in the lower level of the Education Center

Saturday (10:00am - 8:00pm) -- Sunday (10:00am - 7:00pm) -- see concession stand, located in the lower level of the Education Center.

You must be 16 years or older to rent a boat and have an ID.

Swan Lake State Park Disc Golf Course

18 hole course

Rental disc available through our campground host, concession stand, or conservation office.

T-Shirts and disc's for sale in our gift shop!

S H E L T E R  H O U S E

The shelter house at Great Western Park is available to rent year-round as has a furnace and A/C unit. The shelter holds approximately 75 people and includes a kitchenette area equipped with a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. There is a total of 12 6ft tables and 72 chairs, along with picnic tables outside. When you rent the facility, you rent it for the day. You may check in any time after 5:00am and stay no later than 10:00pm. All CCCB parks close at 10:30pm so we do ask that everything has been cleaned up and guest have exited by 10:00pm. To make reservations for the shelter contact the Carroll County Conservation office at (712) 792-4614 or email office@carrollcountyiowa.org. Reservations can be made on a rolling calendar basis (one year in advance).

P R I C I N G

April – October $60.00 per day

November – March $70.00 per day

All reservation have a refundable security deposit required with payment

Non-Profit Rates are available

Open to the public for fishing.

Visit Iowa DNR website for rules and regulations:

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing

Open to the public during hunting seasons.

Visit the Iowa DNR website for rules and regulations:

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting

H U N T I N G

Public hunting is allowed at Great Western Park. For more information on hunting rules and regulations please visit: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting

R I F L E   R A N G E

The Great Western Park shooting range is available year-round – EXCLUDING pheasant season. There are no fees to use the rifle range at GWP. Please see attachments for our Rules and Regulations regarding the rifle range.

• No persons under the age of 18 is allowed to shoot without direct supervision of an adult
• Paper targets ONLY – NO glass, cans, plastic containers, clay targets, appliances, electronics, or other materials may be used
• Treat every gun as a loaded gun
• All rifle ranger users must pick up their paper targets, frames, spent cartridges/shell casings, and other refuse generated.

Picnicking at Dickson Timber is available.

The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33 mile long multi-use hard surface recreational trail in the Carroll and Sac Counties. The North end of the trail winds through Lake View, Sac County countryside, Carnarvon and into the Carroll County countryside and communities of Breda, Maple River, and Carroll before reaching Swan Lake State Park.

 The Trail is great for running, walking, biking and in the winter snowmobiling. All trail users, 18 years of age and above, are required to purchase a daily, annual, or lifetime permit. Permit envelopes can be found at any of our trail heads, online, Carroll County Courthouse, or at the Carroll Hy-Vee.

Snowmobile riders may use the Sauk Rail Trail if they have purchased a trail permit and there is 4 inches or more of snow on the trail. The trail around Swan Lake State Park is plowed during the winter and can not be used by snowmobiles.

Park Rangers will patrol the trail at random and enforce trail regulations. Please remember to keep your pets on a leash at all times.

All motorized vehicles are unauthorized (motorcycles, ATV's, go carts, vehicles, mopeds, etc.) unless a person has a handicap permit for that vehicle.

Swan Lake State Park has Snowshoes for rent! If you are planning a group event or individual we have the snowshoes for you!

$2 per day

$5 per weekend (Pick up Friday, drop off Monday - during office hours)

Non-profit prices are available!

We recommend there be 4-5 inches of snow.

Please call with any questions!