Parks Near Me in Ely, ia
Palisades Kepler State Park
700 Kepler Dr, Mount Vernon, IA
Palisades-Kepler State Park lies along the beautiful Cedar River in Linn County. The 840-acre park has dramatic river bluffs, deep ravines, majestic hardwood trees, a large variety of... Read More
Jones Park
201 Wilson Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
As a part of AARP's 60th Anniversary, AARP launched an ambitious effort in 2019 to create 53 fitness parks – one each in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin... Read More
Wapsipinicon State Park
21301 County Road E34, Anamosa, IA
Wapsipinicon State Park, dedicated in 1923, was one of Iowa's first state parks. It lies just south of Anamosa on the Wapsipinicon River (locally referred to as the Wapsi). The sandstone and... Read More
Fairport State Recreation Area
3280 Hwy 22, Muscatine, IA
For a different type of camping experience, why not try the Fairport Recreation Area Campground located 6 miles away from Wildcat Den State Park on Highway 22. Fairport is located right on the... Read More
Backbone State Park
1282 120th Street, Dundee, IA
Backbone State Park was dedicated in 1920. It was Iowa's first state park and remains one of the most significant. Backbone is named for its narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop... Read More
Lake Darling State Park
111 Lake Darling Road, Brighton, IA
Lake Darling State Park was dedicated on September 17, 1950. J. N. "Ding" Darling, for whom the park was named, "set the gate," a ceremony in which an honored guest closes the valve on the... Read More
Bixby State Preserve
37894 Fortune Avenue, Edgewood, IA
Bixby consists of 184 acres of rugged algific slopes, mature hard wood forests and a trout stream. The area is for day use only. Perfect for a quiet picnic, fishing, hiking, bird watching or... Read More
Wildcat Den State Park
1884 Wildcat Den Road, Muscatine, IA
Wildcat Den State Park is one of the most unique in Iowa, combining natural beauty and solitude, preservation of historical structures, trails, camping and picnic areas for recreational... Read More
Maquoketa Caves State Park
10970 98th St., Maquoketa, IA
Maquoketa Caves is probably Iowa's most unique state park. Its caves, limestone formations and rugged bluffs provide visitors a chance to "step back" into geological time thousands of years.... Read More
Oakland Mills State Park
The South Shore Area has a 24 site semi-modern campground (50-amp electrical hook-ups) and 11 primitive sites, each with a view of the Skunk River. CAMPING CLOSED MID-OCTOBER THROUGH... Read More
Volga River State Recreation Area
10225 Ivy Road, Fayette, IA
The Volga River Recreation Area is located in one of the most scenic parts of the state. Northeast Iowa is often referred to as "Little Switzerland" because of its rugged topography, geologic... Read More
George Wyth State Park
3659 Wyth Road, Waterloo, IA
George Wyth State Park is located on the Cedar River within the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area. Its large expanse of woodland is abundant with many varieties of wildlife. Bird-watchers... Read More
Geode State Park
3333 Racine Avenue, Danville, IA
Facilities and Activities
Picnicking/Shelters
Geode State Park is one of the most scenic and popular picnicking spots in southeast Iowa. Several open picnic... Read More
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights, Dubuque, IA
The earliest known inhabitants of the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area during historical times were the Mesquakie Indians. Their village was located just south of where the Julien Dubuque... Read More
Echo Valley State Park
Glover's Creek Access -9680 Echo Valley Road, Otter Creek Access - 9672 Echo Valley Road, West Union, IA
Echo Valley is a one hundred-acre natural area, which was built by the Civilian Conservation corps in the 1930’s. The park contains many hand-built historical structures such as a dam, keystone... Read More
Lake Keomah State Park
2720 Keomah Lane, Oskaloosa, IA
Lake Keomah State Park is 366 acres of beautiful woods and water. Lovely shaded picnic areas are nestled between the arms of the 83 acre man-made lake.
During the summer the open water,... Read More
Pikes Peak State Park
32264 Pikes Peak Road, McGregor, IA
In this area, Native Americans of the Woodland Culture of 800 to 1200 A.D. sculpted earthen "effigy" mounds on ridge tops, in the shapes of animals, to celebrate their oneness with Mother... Read More
Cedar Hills Sand Prairie State Preserve
N Butler Rd, Cedar Falls, IA
Cedar Hills Sand Prairie is a 36-acre preserve containing a sand prairie, sedge meadow, and small fen. It is located ten miles northwest of Cedar Falls in western Black Hawk County. Formerly... Read More