EXPLORE: Camping
By Sofia Legaspi Dickens
What’s the best way to enjoy the great outdoors? Live in it for a while. Even if roughing it up isn’t your thing, don’t despair! You can still enjoy one of Iowa’s beautiful parks from the comfort of a modern cabin: running water, air conditioning and a cushy bed. Ah, this is the life.
CHERRY GLEN CAMPGROUND
4338 N.W. 94th Ave., Ankeny
515-964-8792
Campers at Cherry Glen will enjoy a picturesque view of Saylorville Lake, with their campsite sheltered under beautiful mature trees. The campground includes 125 sites with electric hookups. Flush toilets, showers, drinking water and dump station. Nearby hiking trails, boat ramp, visitor center and disc golf course.
JESTER PARK
12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger
515-323-5338
Situated along the west shore of Saylorville Lake, Jester Park features a nature center, outdoor recreation and wellness center, equestrian center, golf course, bison and elk, boating, playground and playscapes. Campground includes 80 electric sites, 62 non-electric sites, four primitive walk-in sites, two showerhouses and four modern cabins.
THOMAS MITCHELL PARK
4590 N.E. 108th St., Mitchellville
515-967-4889
Hiking trails, playground, restrooms, horseshoe pits, ball field, shelters and access to Camp Creek. Electric and non-electric campsites plus showers. The park also features a modern furnished three-bedroom cabin that sleeps six, with a full kitchen and bathroom with ADA shower.
TIMBERLINE CAMPGROUND
31635 Ashworth Road, Waukee
515-987-1714
Timberline Campground is located on the outskirts of Waukee close to West Des Moines. Amenities include a swimming pool, picnic area, restrooms, playground, jump pillow, rec hall, dog park, volleyball court, fishing pond, laundry room, dump station and Wi-Fi. Campers can reserve a tent site, full hook-up site, electric/water site and furnished or unfurnished cabins.
WALNUT WOODS STATE PARK
3155 Walnut Woods Drive, West Des Moines
515-285-4502
Walnut Woods covers 260 beautiful acres of wooded bottomland along the Raccoon River. Campgrounds include modern restrooms and a sanitary dump station. Campsites have concrete pads and electrical service or full hook-ups. Visitors can explore several miles of trails, a bird-watching area, river activities, wildlife and wildflowers.
What’s the best way to enjoy the great outdoors? Live in it for a while. Even if roughing it up isn’t your thing, don’t despair! You can still enjoy one of Iowa’s beautiful parks from the comfort of a modern cabin: running water, air conditioning and a cushy bed. Ah, this is the life.
CHERRY GLEN CAMPGROUND
4338 N.W. 94th Ave., Ankeny
515-964-8792
Campers at Cherry Glen will enjoy a picturesque view of Saylorville Lake, with their campsite sheltered under beautiful mature trees. The campground includes 125 sites with electric hookups. Flush toilets, showers, drinking water and dump station. Nearby hiking trails, boat ramp, visitor center and disc golf course.
JESTER PARK
12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger
515-323-5338
Situated along the west shore of Saylorville Lake, Jester Park features a nature center, outdoor recreation and wellness center, equestrian center, golf course, bison and elk, boating, playground and playscapes. Campground includes 80 electric sites, 62 non-electric sites, four primitive walk-in sites, two showerhouses and four modern cabins.
THOMAS MITCHELL PARK
4590 N.E. 108th St., Mitchellville
515-967-4889
Hiking trails, playground, restrooms, horseshoe pits, ball field, shelters and access to Camp Creek. Electric and non-electric campsites plus showers. The park also features a modern furnished three-bedroom cabin that sleeps six, with a full kitchen and bathroom with ADA shower.
TIMBERLINE CAMPGROUND
31635 Ashworth Road, Waukee
515-987-1714
Timberline Campground is located on the outskirts of Waukee close to West Des Moines. Amenities include a swimming pool, picnic area, restrooms, playground, jump pillow, rec hall, dog park, volleyball court, fishing pond, laundry room, dump station and Wi-Fi. Campers can reserve a tent site, full hook-up site, electric/water site and furnished or unfurnished cabins.
WALNUT WOODS STATE PARK
3155 Walnut Woods Drive, West Des Moines
515-285-4502
Walnut Woods covers 260 beautiful acres of wooded bottomland along the Raccoon River. Campgrounds include modern restrooms and a sanitary dump station. Campsites have concrete pads and electrical service or full hook-ups. Visitors can explore several miles of trails, a bird-watching area, river activities, wildlife and wildflowers.