IOWA STATE PARKS
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319-0034
515/281-5011
Note:
Make reservations directly with the park, or by contacting the ranger within the park. All parks are open year around You can make your reservation after Jan 1. Advance reservations accepted for a stay of one week during the summer season. A non-refundable reservation depoist is due at reservatin time ($10). A damage deposit is also required, which will be returned upon confirmaiton that there are no damages. Weeks begin and end on Saturdays. Check is is 4 pm and check out is 11 am. Cabin rental does not entitle free use of beach or a boat. Cots are addition at 50 cents per ngiht.Lodges/Shelters Several of the parks have lodges as well as cabins. These 21 lodges/enclosed shelters are ideal for gatherings and family reunions. These facilities include lectgricity, water, flush toilets, cook range and refrigerator. The shelters are day use only.
Renters must provide their own bedding, pillows, bath towels, and toiletry items. Other necessities such as electricity, water, dishes, cooking utensils, refrigerators, and kitchen range are provided. The number of cabins available in each area are as follows:
BACKBONE STATE PARK
Dundee, IA 52038
319-924-2527
This was the first Iowa state park, dedicated in 1919, and it is still one of the nicest. Located on one of the highest points in the state, Backbone offers hiking trails through old twisted cedars and rocky areas. The park is named after a high ridge of rock in the center of the 1780-acre park, which resembles a backbone. The park is bounded by the Maquoketa Rivers, and is adjacent to a state forest.
Take the self-guided nature trail, or the cross-country skiing trails in winter. There is boating on Backbone Lake and fishing in a small trout stream.
The 18 modern cabins in the park accommodate up to 6 persons. They are two bedrooms, heated and AC.. Wheel chair accessible. Utensils are provided, but bring your own linens. The cabins have kitchens and showers, and are very comfortable. Park and cabins are open year around.
Rates:
2 bedroom $60/day $375/week
Renovated cabins: $50/day $300/week
Old Cabins: $40/day $200/week
LACEY-KEOSAUQUA STATE PARK
Box 398
Keosauqua, IA 52565
319/293-3502.
This park is one of the largest in Iowa, with 1,653 acres of flowers and shrubs. Once used by ancient Indians, the park features extensive limestone cliffs, open meadows, and a horseshoe bend of the Des Moines River. There is an artificial lake for boating, swimming, and fishing, but you must have a permit for boat and beach privileges. Wildlife trails abound, so you may see raccoon, opossum, squirrel, fox and deer. Ely’s Ford at the N. end of park was the Aver crossing for the Mormon Trail. Indian mounds and ruins of old lumber cabins are in the area.
Cabins: There are 6 modern cabins, each sleeping 4 persons, with kitchen, stove, refrigerator, water, electricity, and utensils. The cabins rent for $25 a day, or $150 a week.
LAKE OF THREE FIRES STATE PARK
RR #4, Box 14
Bedford, IA 50833
712/523-2700
This park, which is 2 miles from Bedford, IA, is nearly 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide, with inlets for fishing and boating. The Potawatamies, a group of Indians known as the Fire Nation, once roamed the prairies in the area. The Chippewas and Ottawas joined with this tribe to form a confederacy known as Three Fires. Rendezvous were often held by the tribes in the area, before the waters of Lake of Three Fires flooded the area. Three fires were kept burning as long as the 3 tribes were together.
Today, the park offers 691 acres of woodlands, great for hikers, skiers, and horseback riders. There is also fishing and boating in the lake.
Cabins: Six modern cabins are available, each sleeping up to 4 persons, and equipped with refrigerator, stove, utensils, electricity, and dishes. Reservations by the week only in summer, with an advance deposit. No showers available.
Rates:
$22/day $120/weekDOLLIVER MEMORIAL STATE PAR
RR 1
Lehigh, IA 50557
515/359-2539
This small park in the N central part of the state features Indian mounds and Boneyard Hollow, a narrow ravine where buffalo bones once were found. A lead tablet attributed to a Jesuit Priest was found here in 1912. The 457-acre park features sandstone bluffs and copper beds of high sulfur and iron content at the river. Fishing, hiking, boat ramp, and lodge are available.
Cabin: There is 1 rustic cabin, very primitive, sleeping 4, with a centralized shower and toilet nearby. No sanitary facilities but close to campground facilities.
Rates:
$22/day $120/weekSPRINGBROOK STATE PARK
RR 1
Guthrie Center, IA 50115
515/747-3591
This W. central park offers snowmobile, nature and hiking trails. The rolling hills are filled with deer, red and gray fox, coyote, beaver, raccoon, and turkey. The 796-acre park is along the Middle Raccoon River and Lake. There is swimming in the lake, plus fishing and boating. The park has a large conservation education center, with forestry demonstration areas.
Cabins: The 9 sleeping cabins accommodate 14 people each. There are also 6 rustic cabins, equipped with refrigerators, gas ranges, utensils, water, electricity, and flush toilets, each accommodating 4 people each. Showers are in the campground.
Rates: $22/day $120/Week
LAKE WAPELLO STATE PARK
RR #1
Drakesville, IA 52552
515/522-3371
This remote park is located in the NW corner of Iowa, 13 miles from Bloomfield. This popular, 1,150-acre well-manicured park offers grassy knolls, a lake with great swimming, fishing and boating, a stone and hewn timber bathhouse, and a concession in summer. The S . arm of the lake holds a Boy Scout Campground.
Cabins: There are 13 cabins with electricity, sleeping up to 8. Provide your own bedding and linens. Cabin 13 sleeps 8.
Rates: $30/day $175/week
#13 $35/day $200/week
PALISADES-KEPLER STATE PARK
RR2,
Mt. Vernon, IA 52414
319/895-6039
The park is located in the lower Palisades region of the Cedar River, 12 miles from Cedar Rapids. It had summer cabin rentals as far back as 1890’s, even before the area became a park. Carl Sandburg, the poet, was often a visitor. Much of the stone work in the park was completed by the CCC in the 1930’s. The 840-acre park offers vertical cliffs, deep ravines, and abundant wildlife. Many prehistoric mammals once lived in the area, as well as Indians. Hike around and find the Indian mounds, or fish for trout and catfish.
Cabins: There are 4 modern cabins, sleeping 4. All have kitchens, stove, refrigerator, showers. There are also several enclosed shelters for rental.
Rates:
$30/day $175/weekPINE LAKE STATE PARK
For reservations call 515-858-5832
There is modern camping at the park with electric plug ins; there is a dump station, lodge rental nature trails, cabin rentals, hiing, swimming, fishing, boating. There 50-acres of lake with boat rentals and in the winter snow mobiling.
Cabins: There are 4 cabins with an occupancy limit of 4. There is a one-bedroom cabin sleeping also.
Rates:
Sleeping 4 $40 $200/week
1 bedroom $50 $300/week
WILSON ISLAND STATE PARK
Cabin: The 1 cabin has electicity bunk beds, and other furniture; no water or sanitary facilities, but close to campground.
Rate:: $18/day $110/week