Alerts and Closures

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State Park Alerts - Closures and Important Information

Backbone State Park - Delaware County

Cabin Closure: All 16 cabins at Backbone State Park are in need of exterior restoration. The cabins will be closed from November 11 - May 31, 2020 and July 10 - October 31 2020. The restoration techniques required, which include large equipment and potentially hazardous materials, will not allow people to be in the cabins until the work is completed. If the project is finished early, the cabins will be re-opened for reservations. (Updated July 26, 2019)

Cedar Rock - Buchanan County

Road Closure: Visitors approaching Cedar Rock from the south, Cedar Rapids area or I-380 please be advised that a road closure is impacting travel to the park. The local secondary roads department is replacing 3 bridges on W35/Quasqueton Avenue between Walker and 290th Street. The road closure is anticipated to last the length of our tour season. Detour Information: Take I-380 to exit 43 S Independence/Vinton. Turn onto IA-150 N. Turn toward Rowley on 290th Street and head east through town. At the stop sign with W35/Quasqueton Avenue turn north and go through Quasqueton heading left onto Quasqueton Diagonal Blvd at the fork in the road near the cemetery. Cedar Rock State Park is located about 1-mile north of Quasqueton.

South Lodge Closure: The South Lodge will be renovated and will be closed during the 2020 recreation season. (Updated March 28, 2019)

Geode State Park - Henry County

Lake renovation work continues through all of 2019. Completion is now scheduled for Spring of 2020. The lake will remain drained during this time, but may fill up temporarily at times when heavy rainfall or snowmelt occurs. After completion it will be weather dependent on how long it takes for the lake to return to its normal water level.
Campground renovations will continue through Summer 2019. It is anticipated that the campground will be completed some time in late July or early August. Due to road repairs opening will be very dependent on weather conditions and delays are possible.

George Wyth State Park - Black Hawk County

The Cedar Valley Lakes trail in George Wyth from Krieg's Crossing by Pfeiffer park to the triangle east of the George Wyth Lodge will be closed indefinitely due to the washouts and crumbling of the trail from recent flooding and rains.
George Wyth State Park campground is open and water is on.

Alcohol is prohibited inside the fenced in designated beach area. Alcohol may not be possessed or consumed within the fenced designated beach area. (Updated July 2, 2018)

Campsite Closure: There is currently a closure on campsites 1 - 30 due to very wet conditions. Reservations are being contacted only if the campsites will not be suitable for reservations. (Updated August 22, 2019)
Speed Restriction: As of July 3rd, there is a 5 mph speed limit restriction at Blue Lake due to the lake level being extremely high. (Posted July 3, 2019).

Campground Renovation: The campground will be closed from April 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. The campground will be opened earlier if conditions allow. (UPDATED November 20, 2018)

SHELTER AND CAMPGROUND CLOSURE: The circle point picnic shelter and the campground at Pine Lake State Park will be closed beginning April 1, 2020 - October 31, 2020. Please call the park office at (641) 858-5832 with questions. (Updated 8/2/2019)
The cabins at Pine Lake State Park will be closed from July 5 to July 25, 2019 for maintenance, and from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 for a renovation project. Please contact the park office at (641) 858-5832 with questions. (Updated 6/14/19)

Alcohol is prohibited inside the fenced in designated beach area. Alcohol may not be possessed or consumed within the fenced designated beach area.
Lake Renovation - The lake renovation project has been completed and the lake has returned to normal level. The beach will be open for the 2019 recreation season. (Posted 3/26/2019)
Lodge Closure: The day-use lodge will be unavailable for reservations from July 8, 2019 - October 31, 2019 due to the parking lot and boat ramp being resurfaced and repaired. (Posted 2/14/2019)

EQUESTRIAN TRAIL CLOSURE: The equestrian trails are currently closed. This notice will be removed when the trails have been re-opened. Questions can be directed to the forest headquarters at 641-774-4559 (updated 8/20/19).

Viking Lake State Park - Montgomery County

The beach will be closed beginning July 18th due to a lake draw down. No Swimming

Equestrian trails are currently open.
Water has been turned on to the Lakeview Campground and shower building, the Albany Campground and the boat ramp restrooms. Water will be turned off to the campgrounds and boat ramp restrooms for the off season October 15, 2019.

(Updated 5-30-19) The lower road along the Wapsipinicon river is now open Until the next round of heavy rains :)
Water facilities are turned on and operational. (Posted 4/29/2019)
Gates are open at the upside down bridge and the campground.

Due to the town of Hamburg flooding, the modern campground will not be taking reservations in the 2019 recreation season (April - October). However, any open camping sites will be available on a first come first serve basis. Advanced reservations will not be accepted until further notice in the modern campground. The following requirements will be suspended, 1) Limiting campers to no more than 14 consecutive nights 2) Requiring a minimum of 3 nights separating each 2-week stay and 3) Camping fees and transaction fees. (Updated April 25, 2019)
03/25/2019 PARK UNAFFECTED BY FLOODING - ALTERNATE ROUTES MAY BE NECESSARY The March 2019 Flooding of the Missouri River has not affected Waubonsie State Park's grounds or facilities. Please check local road closure information before travelling to the park, as your normal route may be altered. The Waubonsie Campground is currently hosting multiple families that were displaced by the flood. New Reservations for park facilities will not be taken through the month of April, until further notice. If you have any questions, please call or email the park at 712-382-2786 or waubonsie@dnr.iowa.gov.

Wilson Island is closed due to flooding of the Missouri River in March and June of 2019. This affects all uses of the park including camping, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting, Missouri river access and biking. A date for reopening has not been set. Damage varies, but considerable silt and debris cover the shelter area and east campground. Please call the park office for additional information. 712-642-2069 Updated 7/3/19