Thank you for joining us for another week of our special series, A Walk In the Park, State Park Spotlight. In this series, we journey to a different state each week to learn about its local state parks. This week we will be visiting the state parks of Iowa. You may not have even heard of these state parks and all their beauty even if you live there. You may just be looking for someplace new to explore. We invite you to join us in learning about the state parks in each of the 50 states. Now, let’s journey to the state parks of Iowa.

Big Creek State Park
8794 NW 125th Ave
Polk City, IA 50226
515-984-6473

The star of Big Creek State Park is the lake which covers 866 acres and provides recreation to the park’s visitors. This park offers different recreation for everyone, no matter your age. Of course there is swimming, boating and fishing but there is also a large wooden structure built for play right on the beach. There are also disc golf, softball and volleyball areas for families to play. Refreshments are served near the beach and there is a picnic shelter for you to relax and enjoy a bite to eat.
The park’s shooting range is currently being renovated but there is still lots for everyone to do. Fishing is available year round for crappie, bluegill, large mouth bass, walleye, channel catfish and muskie. Camping is not allowed in the park itself but there are several campgrounds located only 4 miles away. 26 miles of trails are available for hiking and biking. There are also 11 miles of snowmobile trails for winter recreation. Big Creek is also popular with cross-country skiers.

Honey Creek State Park
12194 Honey Creek Pl.
Moravia, IA 52571-8879
641-724-3739

Honey Creek is a beautiful park that is perfect for family outings, reunions or other large gatherings. I can definitely see why! Their picnic areas are located at scenic points throughout the park. There are over 100 modern campsites with showers, restrooms and other conveniences available to be reserved. You can also stay in a rustic log cabin that has electricity, a covered porch and furniture. At the beginning of the Woodland Interpretive Trail there are special displays that explain the histoy of Honey Creek State Park. if you follow the trail you will learn about the history of the Native Americans who once inhabited the area.

Love the outdoors? The park’s lake offers boating, water skiing and fishing. There are crappie, walleye and channel catfish available to challenge anglers on the lake. Lake Rathbun is Iowa’s largest lake. During the snow season you can go cross country skiing and snow mobiling also! It’s an outdoor lovers paradise! This park is a fun, rustic place that the whole family will enjoy visiting.

Stone State Park
5001 Talbot Road
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-255-4698

Love to learn? If you’re visiting Stone State Park the first place you need to check out is the Nature Center. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center has interpretive displays, a “walk-under” prairie, a 400-gallon aquarium and natural history dioramas. A children’s discovery area provides fun opportunities to handle furs, antlers, fossils, and other artifacts. There are picnic areas with beautiful views of the Loess Hills and camp sites where you can sleep outside in a tent or stay in a cabin. Stone State Park has 6 miles of equestrian trails, 6 miles of mountain bike and snowmobile trails and 8 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails. This is truly a place the whole family will love.

Explore the outdoors and learn! Native Americans were the first humans to inhabit the area that is now Stone State Park. It is also known as an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary. There are so many varieties of wildlife in the park like wild turkeys, deer, coyote, butterflies and birds. You can spend an afternoon bird watching or hiking on the trails. In the mood to relax? Take a stroll and just enjoy the beauty of the woodland wildflowers. Stone State Park is sure to become a family favorite that you will return to again and again.

All photographs belong to http://www.iowadnr.gov/. You can visit their website for more information on planning your visit and to reserve your stay at a Iowa State Park.

Have you been to any of the State Parks in Iowa? Which of these would you love to visit? Please share this post on social media and let others know what you think!

Additional Walk in the Park State by State Spotlight
Alabama State Parks
Alaska State Parks
Arizona State Parks
Arkansas State Parks
California State Parks
Colorado State Parks
Connecticut State Parks
Delaware State Parks
Florida State Parks
Georgia State Parks
Hawaiian State Parks
Iowa State Parks
Illinois State Parks
Indiana State Parks
Iowa State Parks
Kansas State Parks
Kentucky State Parks
Louisiana State Parks