Doolittle Prairie

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Location

14249 560th Avenue, Story City IA 50248

1.25 miles south of E-18 [130th Street] on 560th Avenue. From Ames, go north on I-35 to exit 123, then west .5 miles to 560th Avenue. Turn left and head south on 560th 1.25 miles (look for the brown arrowhead sign, entrance is hidden.) Turn west into the driveway and keep going west to the turn-around. From Highway 69, go north to 150th Street, east two miles to 560th Avenue then north for just under one mile.

Operating Hours & Seasons Park hours are 5:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. daily.

Doolittle Prairie Map

Rules and Regulations 2025

Discover Doolittle Prairie in Story City

A local gem, Doolittle Prairie is a 40-acre tract of pothole prairie. Located just south of Story City, it is a blaze of color from May through October as prairie wildflowers and grasses bloom. The pothole areas provide valuable habitat for wetland wildlife.

The pristine northern part of the prairie, called Plover Tract, is owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (actually designated as a State Preserve) and is managed by Story County Conservation (SCC). This 24-acre Plover Tract is one of the best remaining examples of pothole prairie in Iowa with six potholes and over 200 native plant species! The southern tract, Matheason Tract, is owned by SCC and was purchased with the help of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Interested in learning more about Doolittle Prairie? We host monthly "Evening Walks on the Prairie" events May through September each year, where the public can explore Doolittle Prairie on a guided walk. Watch our Events Calendar for details. Hiking, walking, bird watching, and several other activities are possible however we do not maintain trails nor do we have picnic tables or grills available. Doolittle Prairie is a designated public hunting area; no target practice is allowed; only non-toxic shot is allowed.

SCC Rules and Regulations