Pilot Knob State Park

Open — Open year-round for camping. During winter months, modern facilities including water, flush toilets, and shower buildings are closed. From November 1 through March 31, campsites operate first-come-first-served with no advance reservations. A warming house with heat and electricity is available for rent in winter.

About

Pilot Knob State Park in northern Iowa is one of the earliest additions to the state park system, dedicated in 1924. The park's centerpiece is a CCC-era observation tower perched atop Pilot Knob, the second highest point in Iowa, providing sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape. The tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers visitors breathtaking panoramic views. The park encompasses 700 acres and features diverse recreational opportunities. The campground contains 60 campsites, including 48 with electrical hookups and some full hookup sites. Modern amenities include shower buildings, flush restrooms, and a trailer dump station. A 15-acre man-made lake provides excellent fishing for bass, bluegill, and catfish, with ice fishing popular during winter months. The park offers five miles of equestrian trails along with hiking trails, and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular winter activities. Pilot Knob contains some of Iowa's most unique ecological features, including Dead Man's Lake, a 4-acre floating sphagnum bog that is the only one of its kind in Iowa. Due to its high acidity, the bog supports specially adapted flora and waterfowl species. The park also features an open-air amphitheater built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, two reservable picnic shelters, and a warming house with heat and electricity available for rent during winter.

Directions

From Forest City, Iowa, drive 3 miles east on Highway 9. Turn right (south) onto 205th Avenue and continue for 1 mile to reach the park entrance.

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