A brief look at some of Iowa's most popular camping sites.
A tour of Iowa's popular camping destinations provides a look at some of the most beautiful and relaxing vacation spots in the nation. With its extensive woodlands and breathtaking views, Iowa offers campers a chance to enjoy nature at its best.
Pikes Peak State Park is a travel destination for thousands of visitors every year. The park offers a large campground with nearly 70 campsites available. The campgrounds provide full modern amenities that include showers, picnic areas and a playground.
Pikes Peak also offers campers an unhindered view of some of the famous effigy mounds. Nearly 200 animal shaped mounds, built by Native Americans centuries ago, provide an interesting look into the area's past. The Effigy Mound monument is a short drive from Pikes Peak and is open to tours provided by the local park rangers.
Yellow River State Forest provides over 8000 acres of woodland habitat and is home to a wide variety of plant-life and native animals. The park offers camping sites and hiking as well as equestrian trails throughout the area. The park is open year-round for hikers and nature enthusiast alike.
Yellow River is also a popular fishing destination for trout and other local fish. During the hunting season, there are designated hunting areas provided. Fires are permitted in camping areas if it hasn't been a particularly dry season. If you want to get away from the hustle of busy campgrounds and enjoy the great outdoors, Yellow River is the place for you.
Backbone State Park provides some of the most breathtaking views in Northeastern Iowa. The park contains nearly 2000 acres and is Iowa's first state park. Full amenities are available for campers, including electric hookups, showers and playgrounds. Cabins are also available, but these fill up rather quickly so call ahead.
The park offers numerous trails and is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the state. The extensive ridgeline and mountainous area provide site-seeing opportunities at every turn. The native bedrock is also provides rock climbers a chance to hone their skills in a beautiful woodland setting. If you plan on fishing while at Backbone, the trout streams are stocked a few times a week during the summer months throughout the early fall.
Iowa's Pine Lake State Park provides campers with over 100 campsites with full modern amenities, including several cabins available via reservation only. The park is located on nearly 600 acres of woodland and offers hiking, fishing and boating.
Pine Lake offers campers the opportunity to rent boats and canoes making it a popular destination in the summer months. The hiking and nature trails have trail markers and offer a chance to enjoy the serenity of the lake and woodlands both.
Geode State Park is named for the numerous rocks and geodes found in this location over the years. The park is located in southeastern Iowa and is a popular camping area for locals and tourist alike. Geode State Park offers nearly 200 campsites with and easy access to showers and restrooms.
The park, encompassing over 1600 acres of land, is situated around a 186-acre lake. Boating and fishing are allowed on the lake and there is a beach area for swimmers. Trails are provided for hikers, complete with trail markers and points of interest. Geode State Park also offers some of the most beautiful picnic spots in Iowa, making it one of the top day destinations for locals.
Iowa is home to some of the most unspoiled camping destinations in the Midwest. Fishing opportunities are plentiful and the hiking trails through the native woodlands provide breathtaking views. Whether you are looking for a full amenity campground, or plan to rough it in the wilds, Iowa has something to offer any camper.
