Parks in Floyd County, Iowa

Floyd County, Iowa has 18 county parks that are managed by the Floyd County Conservation Board.[1] There are two wildlife management areas that are managed by the Iowa DNR, Idlewild WMA and Restoration Marsh WMA.[2] There are also 22 parks that are managed by local municipalities.[3]

Activities at county parks include camping, hiking, bicycling, fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, environmental education, fossil hunting, and more.

Fishing is allowed in public locations along the Cedar River, Flood Creek, Little Cedar River, Rudd Lake, Shell Rock River and Winnebago River. A fishing license is required to fish in the state of Iowa. Check local and state regulations before fishing.

Name Location Camping Hiking Fishing Management Coord Summary
Ackley Creek Park Marble Rock Y Y County 42°57′04″N 92°52′46″W / 42.951239°N 92.879448°W / 42.951239; -92.879448 (Ackley Creek Park) 40 acres, 24 electric sites with water, a restroom/shower house, two picnic shelters, a playground and hiking trails
Charles City parks Charles City Y Y Town Fishing is permitted within Charles City city limits. Public land stretches along the north side of the river, from Flora Ellis Park (1/2 block west of Riverside Ave. & Howard St, on Riverside Ave.) to Merten J. Klaus Park (end of Maple Ave.). Fishing is also allowed on the south side of the river from Sherman Park to Bayou Bend Park and Grace Larson Park to St. Mary's Park, near McDonald's.
Charles City WhiteWater at Riverfront Park Charles City Town Whitewater kayaking and access for canoes[4]
Charley Western Recreational Trailway Charles City Y Y Town Bicycle/hiking trail, runs approximately 5.2 miles through and around Charles City, portions along the Cedar River, part is a rail trail of the former Charley Western Railroad[5][6]
Colwell Park Colwell Y Y Y County 43°09′22″N 92°35′20″W / 43.156044°N 92.588824°W / 43.156044; -92.588824 (Colwell Park) 19 acres, features free primitive camping areas and pit toilets, and a playground. Access to Little Cedar River.
East Idlewild Park Floyd Y Iowa DNR 43°10′10″N 92°45′09″W / 43.169470°N 92.75238°W / 43.169470; -92.75238 (East Idlewild Park) Parking at south trailhead is located at intersection of Ocean Avenue and 130th Street, hiking is possible along old road that leads to Cedar River.
East Park and Rudd Lake Rudd Y Y Y County 43°07′34″N 92°53′21″W / 43.126031°N 92.889150°W / 43.126031; -92.889150 (East Park) 12 acres, campsites with grills, playground, shelter, paved trails, fishing jetty. Bicycle/hiking trail, trailhead is located at beach parking lot, one lap around lake equals 9/10 mile.[7]
Edna Pelz Wildlife Area Charles City Y County 43°08′05″N 92°37′31″W / 43.134768°N 92.625346°W / 43.134768; -92.625346 (Edna Pelz Area) 24 acres, access to Little Cedar River
Fossil & Prairie Park Rockford Y County 43°02′50″N 92°58′44″W / 43.047255°N 92.978759°W / 43.047255; -92.978759 (Fossil & Prairie Park) Features hiking trails through native prairies, a fossil quarry where visitors can collect Devonian fossils and a nature center for environmental education.[8][9]
Gates Bridge Access Greene Y Y Y County 42°56′07″N 92°51′03″W / 42.935203°N 92.850764°W / 42.935203; -92.850764 (Gates Bridge Access) A free primitive camping area with six sites, allows canoers and boaters access to the Shell Rock River.
George Wyatt Park & Campgrounds Rockford Y Y Y Town 43°09′22″N 92°35′20″W / 43.156044°N 92.588824°W / 43.156044; -92.588824 (Colwell Park) Features 24 campsites with trailer dump and showers, a boat ramp available and fishing.[10]
Happy Acres Marble Rock Y Y County 43°01′01″N 92°49′26″W / 43.017058°N 92.823830°W / 43.017058; -92.823830 (Happy Acres) 40 acres, access to Flood Creek
Howard's Woods Recreation Area Nashua Y Y Y County 42°59′03″N 92°33′41″W / 42.984275°N 92.561256°W / 42.984275; -92.561256 (Howard's Woods Recreation Area) 20 acres, managed by Chickasaw County Conservation Board. Primitive camping, hiking, river fishing, shelter, woodland.[11]
Joney Laudner Family Nature Preserve Rockford County 43°02′44″N 92°59′55″W / 43.045564°N 92.998702°W / 43.045564; -92.998702 (Joney Laudner Family Nature Preserve) Recreated prairie pothole, attracts waterfowl in spring and fall migration season
Koebrick Wildlife Area Marble Rock Y County 42°59′49″N 92°48′36″W / 42.996863°N 92.809925°W / 42.996863; -92.809925 (Koebrick Wildlife Area) 40 acres, access to Flood Creek
Marble Rock City Park Marble Rock Y Y Town 42°58′03″N 92°52′10″W / 42.967387°N 92.869413°W / 42.967387; -92.869413 (Marble Rock City Park) 10 acres, access to Shell Rock River, camping with electrical hookup[12]
Mathers Woods Nora Springs Y Y Town 43°07′56″N 92°59′30″W / 43.132322°N 92.991556°W / 43.132322; -92.991556 (Mathers Woods) Nature preserve, trail follows old road towards Shell Rock River
River Road Canoe Launch Floyd Y County 43°12′30″N 92°47′17″W / 43.208246°N 92.788080°W / 43.208246; -92.788080 (River Road Canoe Launch) Cedar River access, parking at canoe launch point northeast of River Road Bridge
Rockford Public Access Rockford Y Town 43°02′57″N 92°56′55″W / 43.049169°N 92.948670°W / 43.049169; -92.948670 (Rockford Public Access) Access to Winnebago River at south end of 2nd St. Southwest, fishing best done by canoe.
Rotary Park Floyd Y Y County 43°06′59″N 92°42′24″W / 43.1164289°N 92.706542°W / 43.1164289; -92.706542 (Rotary Park) 43.116428915878465,-92.70654201507568 Cedar River access, parking at canoe launch point northeast of River Road Bridge, picnic shelter
Rotary Wildlife Area Floyd County 43°07′06″N 92°42′22″W / 43.118200°N 92.706028°W / 43.118200; -92.706028 (Rotary Wildlife Area)
Shell Rock River City Park Nora Springs Y Town 43°07′56″N 92°59′30″W / 43.132322°N 92.991556°W / 43.132322; -92.991556 (Mathers Woods) Access to Shell Rock River, dam, located at west end of 6th St NW.
South Hawkeye Avenue Bridge Nora Springs Y Town 43°08′17″N 93°00′24″W / 43.138010°N 93.006617°W / 43.138010; -93.006617 (South Hawkeye Avenue Bridge) Access to Shell Rock River, parking at the end of S. Hawkeye Ave. or on other side of bridge, public fishing is allowed on south side of river.
Tosanak Recreation Area Marble Rock Y Y County 42°59′18″N 92°53′40″W / 42.988399°N 92.894368°W / 42.988399; -92.894368 (Tosanak Recreation Area) 370 acres, access to Shell Rock River, reservable cabins, lodges and picnic shelters, also primitive camping[13]
Trowbridge Marsh Charles City Y Town 43°04′32″N 92°41′42″W / 43.075571°N 92.695050°W / 43.075571; -92.695050 (Trowbridge Marsh) Wetland habitat
Wentlands Woods Floyd Y County 43°08′30″N 92°42′25″W / 43.141660°N 92.707053°W / 43.141660; -92.707053 (Wentlands Woods) 102 acres of forest, trailhead is at the parking area near Quail Ave and 150th St., hiking trail is crushed limestone that circles the park, seasonal hunting
West Idlewild Park Floyd Y Y Y County 43°09′48″N 92°45′13″W / 43.163345°N 92.753687°W / 43.163345; -92.753687 (West Idlewild Park) 50 acres, primitive camping along the Cedar River, activities include bird watching, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Winterink Woods Charles City Y County 43°01′37″N 92°37′07″W / 43.026983°N 92.618548°W / 43.026983; -92.618548 (Winterink Woods) 40 acre wooded hunting area, parking is north of the intersection of Utopia Ave and 227th St. on Utopia Ave.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Conservation Areas". Floyd County, Iowa. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Public Wildlife Management Areas, Counties D-J". Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Parks in Floyd County". Mycountyparks.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Official site". Charles City WhiteWater. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  5. ^ "CWT Trail Map" (PDF). Charles City Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Charley Western Recreational Trailway". Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Rudd Lake". Iowa DNR. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Official site". Fossil & Prairie Park. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Rockford Fossil & Prairie Park Offers Family Fun In North Central Iowa". Travels with Sara. July 15, 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  10. ^ "George Wyatt City Park". Allstays/com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Howard's Woods". My County Parks. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Parks". Marble Rock Historical Society. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Tosanak Recreation Area". Floyd County Conservation. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
edit