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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


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. Park Staff are recommending that you DO NOT LAUNCH boats at this time, as the end of the pavement is just below the waters edge. Reports of boat trailers going off the edge have increased in the last week. (Updated 7/24/22) To see current drought conditions click this link.

Banquet Room and Lodge Reservation Update: Reservations for the day use Lodge and Banquet Room will be unavailable beginning this year (2023) for repairs and updates to these facilities. The Banquet Room will be closed for reservations from 8/14/23 - 6/3/24. The Lodge will be closed for reservations 9/25/23 - 7/30/24. If you would like to be notified when the lodge or banquet room opens, fill out the following form: Lewis and Clark Google Form. (POSTED 4/11/23)

Winter Facilities Update: On October 16th 2023 the modern facilities will be closed for the winter season. Water will be shut off throughout the park, including the water hydrants throughout the campground (including full-hookup sites). The shower building and beach house will be closed to the public. Pit toilets will be open throughout the park. The dump station is open, but will not have water to wash out tanks. (Posted 8/20/23)
Starting in April 2024, all campsites at Lewis and Clark State Park will become 100-percent reservable and will be accepting same-day reservations. As part of the process, the campground will close on November 1, 2023. Thank you for your patience during this transition! (Posted August 15, 2023)
Due to upcoming renovations the Visitors Center will be by appointment only beginning 7/21/23. If you would like to schedule a tour of the Visitors Center, please contact the park by calling 712-423-2829. We apologize for the inconvenience. (Posted 7/20/23)

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