Hike more than 2 miles of routes, meandering through wooded bottomland along the Raccoon River. Cross-country skiing is a popular activity in the winter. 3 miles from the park is the Great Western multi-use trailhead that links Des Moines and Martensdale along its paved, 16.5 mile course.
Camp in among the shaded campsites at Walnut Woods. All camping sites have electric functions and 8 websites have water/sewer/electric hookups. The camping site does not have showers, however it does consist of modern-day washrooms and a sanitary dump station. Camping bookings can be made through the online appointment system for Walnut Woods State Park, and 100 percent of camping areas are reservable and a reservation is needed. The campground accepts reservations year round.
Birdwatch at the bird blind observation station in Walnut Woods State Park or at the Purple Martin Water Resource Location. Bird-watching is especially popular during summertime and fall months with flycatchers, warblers, hawks, owls and numerous different type of songbirds waiting to be found.
Fish or canoe along the winding Raccoon River. Visitors can fish from the riverbank or introduce their boat from the ramp situated on the west end of the park. Considering that the park elevation is not much greater than the typical river level, the water level is continuously changing.
Reserve the just recently refurbished 1930s CCC lodge through the online reservation system for Walnut Woods State Park for weddings, graduations or large family events. The year-round lodge deals both indoor and outside fireplaces, together with a shaded outdoor shelter location and yard. Several shaded picnic areas with fire grills can also be discovered in the park.
Walnut Woods State Park is a peaceful location for anyone seeking the outdoors not far from the state’s capital city. The park is home to Iowa’s largest stand of black walnut trees, with one of the park system’s finest examples of a 1930s CCC-era lodge.