Shimek Forest Campground

Open — Currently available first-come, first-served through December 31. Campground closes for winter January 1. Reservations open April 1 for the 2026 season, operating April 1 through October 31. During reservation season, all sites are 100% reservable and advance reservations are required.

About

Shimek State Forest Campground encompasses four distinct camping areas spread across 9,448 acres of managed forest in southeast Iowa. Named after conservationist Dr. Bohumil Shimek, the forest was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and 1940s on former farmland. The Lick Creek Unit features two equestrian campgrounds with 35 sites total, offering open-air stalls for overnight horse stabling, hitching posts, and gravel parking pads designed for horse trailers. The Farmington Unit provides eight primitive campsites near fishing access, while the Donnellson Unit offers 11 sites plus one hike-in backcountry site accessible via a half-mile trail from Shagbark Lake. The terrain is characterized by narrow ridges separated by deeply cut drainages, with trails winding through oak-hickory forests interspersed with prairie remnants and conifer plantations. Four small lakes stocked with bass, catfish, and panfish offer fishing opportunities. The forest is open to hunting for deer, turkey, and small game outside designated campground areas. Nearly 60 miles of trails accommodate hiking, mountain biking on designated routes, and horseback riding. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and limited snowmobiling on designated routes. Rattlesnakes and copperheads are present in portions of the forest, particularly on the east side of the Des Moines River.

Directions

Forest headquarters located 1 mile northeast of Farmington on County Road J56. Lick Creek Unit is 3 miles east of Farmington on Highway 2. Donnellson Unit is 4 miles east of Farmington on Highway 2. Keosauqua Unit is 2 miles southwest of Keosauqua near Lake Sugema.

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