Fort Defiance State Park

About

Fort Defiance State Park sits on 191 acres of wooded bluffs along the West Fork Des Moines River in northwest Iowa. Named for a Civil War-era stockade built here in 1862 to protect settlers during the Dakota Conflict, the park preserves one of Iowa's more rugged landscapes with steep ravines and mature hardwood forests. The campground is non-modern, meaning no showers or flush toilets, but eight of the 16 sites offer 20/30/50-amp electric hookups for RVs and trailers. Sites are back-in only and can accommodate units up to 66 feet on some pads. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table. A pit latrine serves the camping area. An army-post style day-use lodge is available for group reservations. Recreation includes 6.24 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, with 5.05 miles open to horseback riding and 2.7 miles groomed for cross-country skiing in winter. A boat ramp provides access to the West Fork Des Moines River for fishing and canoeing.

Directions

From Estherville, head southwest on IA-9 for approximately 3 miles, then turn south on 360th Avenue. The park entrance is at 1730 360th Ave.