Picnic Spots Near Me in Independence, ia
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Union Grove State Park
1215 220th Street, Gladbrook, IA
Union Grove State Park, located in northwest Tama County, is a very popular outdoor recreation area. The park was established in 1938. Its focal point is beautiful 110-acre Union Grove Lake.... Read More
Yellow River State Forest
729 State Forest Road, Harpers Ferry, IA
The Paint Creek Unit is of primary interest to the recreationist. It has the Big Paint Creek, Little Paint Creek and equestrian campgrounds with capacities of 48, 80 and 40 sites respectively.... Read More
Terry Trueblood Recreation Area
4213 SE Sand Road, Iowa City, IA
Amenities include
Walk-run trail routes
Fishing
Bird watching
3 picnic shelters
Hiking
Park Lodge
Ice skate, canoe, kayak and other rentals available seasonally... 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
Rock Creek State Park
5627 Rock Creek East, Kellogg, IA
Kellogg is three miles west and two miles south of the park. Newton is four miles south and ten miles west on Highway 6 and is the county seat. Grinnell is seven miles east of Rock Creek and is... Read More
Pine Lake State Park
22620 County Highway S56, Eldora, IA
Facilities and Activities
Picnicking/Shelters/Lodge
Pine Lake offers 4 beautiful picnic areas. One is a quiet river setting near Pine Creek on the eastern side of... 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
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
Beed's Lake State Park
1422 165th Street, Hampton, IA
Beed's Lake is a popular boating spot due to its scenic beauty. Motors of any size may be used at "no wake" speeds on the lake. A modern boat ramp is located on the southern shore of the... 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
