McIntosh Woods State Park

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About the Park

McIntosh Woods State Park is a 60-acre natural enclave on the northwest shore of Clear Lake in northern Iowa. The park, founded in 1944, is a popular northern Iowa outdoor destination for fishing, boating, kayaking and more. Visitors can enjoy a unique camping experience in one of two yurts, which are the only yurts in the Iowa state park system. 

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing are popular winter activities at the park. McIntosh's sandy beach is located on the peninsula along with a modern playground. The shoreline offers picnicking and magnificent views of the sunsets to the west and south.

Plan Your Visit

• Hike the 1.5-mile boardwalk trail through the mallard marsh leading to a wildlife viewing blind. A one-mile paved bike trail winds through Ventura West Cove on the west end of the lake. Spring and fall migration viewing is popular among bird watchers.
• Boat and fish at McIntosh Woods, featuring one of the most popular boat ramps on the lake. The 3,643-acre Clear Lake is a Midwest destination for year-round fishing, including walleye, muskie, Northern pike, catfish, yellow bass and panfish. Two fishing jetties provide shoreline access; one is ADA accessible, and a fish cleaning station and modern boat ramp are available near the water.
• Stay overnight in one of two yurts or at the park’s shaded campground. McIntosh Woods is the only state park with yurts, and one yurt is ADA accessible. The campground offers electric and non-electric sites, a modern restroom and a shower building. One fourth of the campsites are available on a first-come, first served basis and advance campsite and yurt reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Mcintosh Woods State Park.
• Camp at the campground featuring a new playground, and electrical hookup sites. Modern restrooms, showers and a trailer dump station are also available. One fourth of the campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and advance reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Mcintosh Woods State Park.
• Enjoy one of two open picnic shelters for an outdoor gathering during your visit. The shelters are ADA accessible and are available first come first serve. Several grassy and shaded picnic areas are also available throughout the park.
• Explore Ventura Cove, a 22-acre woodland with a popular paved bike trail. The trail continues further around the lake and along a roadway to make a full circle around the lake. Ventura Access is a 3-acre area with a two-lane boat ramp, 1/2 court basketball court, modern restroom, shelter and new aquatic boat cleaning station.

Amenities at a Glance

• Hiking trails
• Playground
• Boat ramp
• Fishing jetties (2)
• Fish cleaning station
• Shelters ; ADA accessible
• Modern restroom
• Showers
• Yurts
• Electric campsites
• Non-electric campsites

Explore the Park

• McIntosh Woods State Park map and flyer
• McIntosh Woods State Park campground map