Facilities and Activities

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 Park 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.

Picnicking/Shelters
Emerson Bay is a great place for a family picnic. Emerson Bay Lighthouse Point has a shelter that is available and may be reserved online through the park reservation system.This shelter is also conveniently located near a sand beach, an open grass recreation area, and a playground. The lighthouse tower also provides the user with a spectacular view of West Lake Okoboji.

Camping
The Emerson Bay campgrounds is one of the most popular in the state. The campground is well shaded and features paved roads, playground equipment, boat ramps, modern restroom and shower facilities, as well as sanitary dump station. There are a total of 117 campsites, 57 with electrical hookups, 24 with cable TV connections, and 60 non-electric sites. 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.

Trails
Emerson Bay is located near many area recreational trails.

Lake Activities (boating, fishing)
Emerson Bay's beach provides a fine place for young and old to sunbathe and splash in the crystal clear water of West Okoboji. Emerson Bay also hosts one of the most popular areas to launch a boat onto the Iowa Great Lakes chain.

West 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. Boating is also very popular on the lakes using everything from canoes to sailboats and ski rigs.

The "lakes area" of northwest Iowa offers a tremendous array of outdoor recreation opportunities, year-round. The unique setting of beautiful and clear Lakes East and West Okoboji, Big Spirit Lake and other water bodies truly provides wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation. The focal point for state parks and recreation areas in this region is beautiful Gull Point State Park, established in 1933. Gull Point provides a pleasing, shaded setting on West Okoboji Lake and offers a well-rounded variety of outdoor recreation facilities.

Nearby Towns
Emerson Bay State Park is located off Highway 86 near the towns of Milford, Arnolds Park, Okoboji and Spirit Lake.

Contact Information
Physical Address:
Emerson Bay State Recreation Area
3100 Emerson St.
West Okoboji, IA 51351

E-mail address: Gull_Point@dnr.iowa.gov