While there are many spectacular state parks in Iowa, the fun doesn’t stop there – the Hawkeye State is also brimming with stellar county parks as well. Little Wall Lake County Park is a perfect spot for an outing, and it is located less than a half-hour north of Ames near the town of Jewel, Iowa.

This county park has a lot to offer with a 250-acre lake, canoe rentals, campsites, cabins, boating, and fishing. The park almost surrounds Little Wall Lake and, according to its website, is ranked the state’s best county lake park!
Andy Jordan / Google Maps
Little Wall Lake is 13 feet deep at its deepest part and is suitable for fishing and boating. It is believed the lake was formed by a retreating glacier; human hands deepened it in 1905 to create a lake rather than a marsh type of habitat.
Little Wall Lake Park / Facebook
The main part of the park, including a campground and a boat launch, is located on the north side of the lake. A short road on the south side also provides access to a boat launch and several fishing docks.
Bibek Byanju / Google Maps

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A unique aspect to this park is that the campground is open year-round. While official reservations can be placed roughly between April through October, the campground is open on a first come first serve basis throughout the winter.
Kent Searl / Google Maps
Amenities such as showers and water hookups may not be available to prevent freezing, but still, the park is an ideal spot to get out of the house for winter activities such as snowmobiling or ice fishing. If you want to stay with all the comforts in the cold season, there are three modern cabins which are open year round and make a perfect place to hole up and sip hot chocolate. The campground has 53 full hookup sites for $30 per night and the same number of water and electric sites for $25 per night. Primitive tent camping sites are $12 per night with a 14 night maximum stay limit.
There are 10 canoes and 4 kayaks available at the park that can be rented for $15 for 4 hours of use. Or, if you prefer to keep your feet on land, enjoy the beach instead.
Joel Meeder / Google Maps
There's also a playground and a variety of picnic tables and benches scattered throughout the park.
Maruf Ahamed / Google Maps
And finally, if you want a family friendly place to dress up for Halloween, the campground hosts a trick-or-treat event with an award given to the best decorated campsite.

Little Wall is a great spot for many seasons! Have you visited it before? Do you have your own favorite local county park? If so, give it a shout out here on our nomination form! What do you love about it?

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Little Wall Lake, Iowa 50130, USA