Join the fun near West Des Moines. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids?
You're in luckβWest Des Moines is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near West Des Moines, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you. We promise you'll be pleasantly surprised. The park is nestled 1. Millions of years before the plains of Iowa were inhabited by the Sauk, Fox and Sioux peoples, much of the American Midwest was covered by a shallow inland sea. Fast-forward to just 13, years ago, with the inland sea now long gone, Ice Age glacial meltwater raced across the dry plains, carving and scouring channels and canyons into the sandstone terrain.
This 1,acre nature preserve and recreation area is located on a wide bend on the Des Moines River, and is just 40 miles north of the city of Des Moines. The park is subject to frequent flooding when the river breaches its banks, but is otherwise a popular year-round outdoor recreation destination. Campers can choose from full-hookup, partial-hookup, or primitive tent sites. Most sites are back-in; only a few are pull-through for larger vehicles.
Tent sites are located in both in the main camp area, and in a secluded walk-in area. There is also a youth group site. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and cooking grills, and all have access to water faucets, flush restrooms, showers, and trash receptacles; a dump station is located near the campground entrance.
The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting. Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating. Iowa's prairie heritage is celebrated in more than 40 acres of prairie plantings throughout the campground.
