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Lewis and Clark State Park

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Lewis and Clark State Park

Lewis and Clark State Park in western Iowa is both a picturesque park and a historic location along the Lewis and Clark expedition trail from 1804. The park is a popular destination for boating, fishing and other outdoor recreation, with an opportunity to engage in history at the Visitors Center, on a working keelboat and during the annual Lewis and Clark Festival each June.


PLAN YOUR VISIT

Learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition by visiting the Visitors Center, including a full-sized reproduction of Lewis and Clark’s keelboat, along with several other historic vessels. The Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 15 to October 1. Off-season appointments can be scheduled by calling the park office.

Hike a variety of trails featuring the sights and sounds of the park’s wildlife and plant life, including an accessible, paved lakeshore path.

Boat in the waters of Blue Lake or swim at the sandy beach area. No restrictions are placed on motor size and a double boat ramp is available for easy lake access.

Fish for panfish, bass, channel catfish and northern pike at Blue Lake. High numbers of bullhead and carp are often found in the water. Fish trap structures are in place as part of a lake restoration project.

Camp at the lakeshore campground featuring a new playground, electrical hookups and full hook ups. 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 the online reservation system for Lewis and Clark State Park.

Reserve one of two open shelters for an outdoor gathering during your visit. The shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be rented through the park office. A day-use lodge at Lewis and Clark is also available for large events such as wedding receptions or family reunions. The lodge was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and can be reserved through the the online reservation system for Lewis and Clark State Park.



Lewis and Clark State Park
21914 Park Loop
Onawa, IA 51040
Ph. 712-423-2829
Fax: 712-423-2829
Lewis_and_Clark@dnr.iowa.gov


BOIL ADVISORY: Due to a well malfunction we are issuing a boil advisory until lab results come back negative. This post will be removed when the boil advisory is lifted. (Posted 6/26/22)
Phone Outage: Phone lines at Lewis and Clark State Park are working intermittently. If you are unable to reach us, or leave a message and do not receive a response please email Lewis_and_Clark@dnr.iowa.gov. Please bear with us as we resolve this issue.
2022 Lewis and Clark Visitor Center: Beginning 5/25/22 the Visitors Center will be open Wednesday through Saturday 9AM - 4:00PM with possible closures around noon for staff lunch. Sunday through Tuesday the Visitors Center will be open as staffing allows. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available upon request. (Posted 5/22/22)
Firewood is currently unavailable at the campground. Please bring your own firewood or buy it locally at Bomgaars or gas stations in town. If you bring your own firewood please bring treated wood as to slow the spread of invasive species.
Blue Lake Dredge: During the 2022 recreation season Blue Lake will be undergoing a dredge project. During this time park users may experience varying water levels and noise during the hours of 6AM-7PM daily. If you have any questions regarding park use and the dredge please call 712-423-2829.
Boat Dock Out Due to Low Water Levels: Due to the drought conditions Western Iowa has been experiencing, the boat dock will remain out at our boat ramp until water levels rise. Once water levels have risen enough to allow the dock to be put in without damage, this alert will be removed. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION when using the boat ramp, as the end of the pavement is just below the waters edge. (Posted 3/17/22)
AMENITIES AT A GLANCE
  • Visitors Center
  • Keelboat Display
  • Hiking trails
  • Playground
  • Swimming beach
  • Boat ramp
  • Day-use lodge (1); ADA accessible
  • Shelters (2)
  • Modern restrooms
  • Showers
  • Electric campsites (93)
  • Full hook-up campsites (13)
  • Youth group only campsites (2)
  • Dump station