Recreation Opportunities abound in Iowa State Parks and Recreation Areas. From hiking and camping to bird-watching and bicycling, each park offers outdoor enthusiasts a multitude of diverse and exciting adventures. Rich in history and natural resources, Iowa is a treasure chest of recreational excellence. Following is a list of state parks and recreation areas. Those items that are clickable will take you to information about that park.

Warning Camper! Did you Know... That certain areas within Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are currently under a federal firewood transport quarantine established by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB). It is felt that EAB may be resident in the wood and could be spread through firewood transport to un-infested areas like Iowa. It is in direct violation of the USDA APHIS quarantine for you to bring firewood from quarantined states into Iowa. Do not bring firewood from your state into Iowa. http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

State regulations require horses, mules and donkeys being transported interstate (from one state to another) must have a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) and negative Coggin's test (EIA). This paperwork must accompany the animal into the State of Iowa. Please refer to Iowa Dept of Agriculture Admissions Regulations for more information.

For example, a person from Missouri who wishes to bring their horses, mules or donkeys into Iowa must provide a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health paper) which lists the description of the animals, date of a negative Coggin's test (tested within the last twelve months), date of the test, the lab that performed the test and the accession number of the Coggin's test.

Persons transporting horses, mules or donkeys intrastate (within the same state) do not need to carry this paperwork.

Again, a person from out of state who wishes to bring their horses, mules or donkeys into Iowa must bring their paperwork, but a person from Iowa who is taking their horses to another part of Iowa does not need to bring their paperwork.

This applies to equestrian camping, day-use and trail riding in any Iowa State Parks, State Recreation Areas or State Forests.

County Managed State Parks
Some state parks are managed by local county conservation boards. If you do not find the name of the state park you are looking for in the list below please click here and you will be taken to a page listing those county managed state parks along with information on how to contact that county conservation board. For information on other county conservation board parks you can visit the State Association of County Conservation Boards web site.