Walnut Woods State Park - an
Located on the edge of West Des Moines Iowa. It is only short drive off of Interstate 35 and not far from Interstate 80 either. It is close to the activities of the Des Moines metro area while still being away from it all.
When we were tent campers, this was our favorite park.
Back then it was primitive with some electric sites but no water and no
sewer and only pit toilets. Within the last few years it has gone
through dramatic changes with the addition of concrete pads and 8 full hookup
sites and 13 with electric hookup. There are 22 campsites in all.
It is heavily forested
which is great for bird and critter watching. There is fishing (with a
licence) in the river. Nice hiking and equestrian trails along
the river and through the woods.
This is a very family friendly place to camp. Other than the activities afforded by nature, there are also playscapes and climbing rocks. A picturesque rustic lodge is available to rent for special occasions like weddings, graduations, club meetings, birthdays, etc.
Note: it is called Walnut Woods for a reason. This park and
the adjacent Browns Woods constitute the worlds largest black walnut forest.
You are not allowed to harvest the walnuts and in the Fall ... they FALL
and it can be noisy and messy on your roof. All in all, still one of our favorite spots to camp
and get away from it all.
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