Iowa / Polk County

Cottonwood Recreation Area

Closed — Open seasonally April through October. Day-use hours are 7am-8pm in April, 7am-9pm from May through Labor Day, and 7am-8pm from the day after Labor Day through October. Group picnic shelters can be reserved up to 4 days in advance. This is a day-use only facility with no overnight camping.

About

Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility situated in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam, part of the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project that stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The area covers a large, flat lowland bordering the east side of the Des Moines River and provides a perfect setting for group gatherings and outdoor recreation. The facility features nine group picnic areas equipped with water and electric hookups, flush restrooms, a volleyball court, playground equipment, and hiking trails. The paved Neal Smith Trail, a designated National Recreation Trail, runs through the area and connects to other recreational sites around Saylorville Lake. Visitors enjoy fishing for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and northern pike, as well as boating, water skiing, and wildlife viewing. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, and waterfowl are commonly seen throughout the area. Group picnic shelters may be reserved up to 4 days in advance through Recreation.gov, and unreserved shelters are available first-come, first-served at no charge.

Directions

From I-35, take Exit 90 in Ankeny and head approximately 3.5 miles west to NW 84th Ave. Turn left on NW 84th Ave and head south approximately 1.5 miles to Cottonwood Recreation Area on the right. Use address 7400 NW 37th Street, Ankeny, IA 50023 for navigation.

Nearby Campgrounds