The Iowa Great Lakes Region is made up of the following areas: Claire Wilson State Recreation Area, Elinor Bedell state Park,
Emerson Bay State Recreation Area, Fort Defiance State Park, Gull Point State Park, Lower Gar Access State Recreation Area,
Marble Beach State Recreation Area, Mini-Wakan State Park, Okamanpedan State Park, Pikes Point State Park, Templar State
Recreation Area, and Trapper's Bay State Park. For a list of other areas and their associated facilities,
click here.
For a map of the Iowa Great Lakes Region click here.
A shelter with kitchenette, bathrooms and a fireplace overlooks Lake Okoboji and is available for rent. The shelter can
be reserved online through the park reservation system. Contact the
park manager at Gull Point (712)337-3211 for more information.
The campground consists of 8 RV campsites with full hookups, modern rest room, and a trailer dump station. Each
campsite has a picnic table and fireplace. A small area has been set aside for youth groups to tent camp. A playground
is located near the campground. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the
park reservation system. Half of the campsites are available for
self-registration on a first-come/first-serve basis.
Several miles of trail will take you through wetlands, woodlands, and along the lakeshore.
(swimming, boating, fishing)
East Okoboji and the many other lakes in the area are some of the prime fishing spots in Iowa. Anglers will find challenging sport
pursuing a variety of game fish, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white bass, perch, bluegills,
crappies, catfish, and bullheads.
Elinor Bedell State Park is Iowa's newest (1998) state park. It is located on the shores of East Lake Okoboji and
represents one of the last remaining open spaces in a region that is among Iowa's most popular tourist destination
- the Iowa Great Lakes. The eighty acre park was a generous gift of Berkley and Elinor Bedell. A life long resident of
the Great Lakes area, Berkley Bedell represented Northwest Iowa for 12 years in the United States Congress. Berkley
and Elinor's dream of permanently protecting this beautiful piece of open space for future generations led to donation
of the land to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Elinor Bedell State Park will promote appreciation and enjoyment of prairies, wetlands, and oak savanna landscapes
once commonly found along the shores of Iowa's Great lakes. An extensive trail system will link these restored
landscapes providing the public with recreational opportunities. By re-creating these natural landscapes, wildlife habitat
will be improved and will provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
Nearby cities include Spirit Lake, Okoboji and Arnolds Park.
Physical Address:
Elinor Bedell State Park
1619 260th Ave.
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Mailing Address:
Gull Point State Park
1500 Harpen Street
Milford, IA 51351
ph. 712/337-3211
E-mail address: Elinor_Bedell@dnr.iowa.gov
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