Iowa / Johnson County / Sugar Bottom Park

Sugar Bottom Day Use Area

Closed — Closed for the winter season. Typically reopens in spring around May and operates through September.

About

Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is located on the eastern shore of Coralville Lake in a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility provides day-use recreation opportunities including an 18-hole disc golf course and mountain bike trails ranging from beginner to expert difficulty. The area includes access to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and a barrier-free asphalt trail. Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for boating, fishing, swimming and water sports. The lake supports populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Nearby Devonian Fossil Gorge, located just below the dam, offers a rare opportunity to explore a 375-million-year-old sea floor with fossil remains from an ancient tropical marine environment. The area sits in the Iowa River Valley just north of Iowa City, surrounded by abundant wildlife including white-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and songbirds. Facilities include beach access, boat ramp, and restroom facilities. Note that this is a day-use area only; overnight camping is available at the nearby Sugar Bottom Campground.

Directions

From Interstate 380 (North Liberty), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel east on W. Penn St. for 2.2 miles. At the four-way stop, turn left onto N. Front St./Mehaffey Bridge Road NE. Continue on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.9 miles. After crossing Mehaffey Bridge, turn right onto Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue for 1.1 miles; entrance to Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is on the left.

Nearby Campgrounds