Floyd County, Iowa has 18 county parks that are managed by the Floyd County Conservation Board.[1] There are two wildlife management areas that are managed by the Iowa DNR, Idlewild WMA and Restoration Marsh WMA.[2] There are also 22 parks that are managed by local municipalities.[3]
Activities at county parks include camping, hiking, bicycling, fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, environmental education, fossil hunting, and more.
Fishing is allowed in public locations along the Cedar River, Flood Creek, Little Cedar River, Rudd Lake, Shell Rock River and Winnebago River. A fishing license is required to fish in the state of Iowa. Check local and state regulations before fishing.
| Name | Location | Camping | Hiking | Fishing | Management | Coord | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackley Creek Park | Marble Rock | Y | Y | County | 40 acres, 24 electric sites with water, a restroom/shower house, two picnic shelters, a playground and hiking trails | ||
| Charles City parks | Charles City | Y | Y | Town | Fishing is permitted within Charles City city limits. Public land stretches along the north side of the river, from Flora Ellis Park (1/2 block west of Riverside Ave. & Howard St, on Riverside Ave.) to Merten J. Klaus Park (end of Maple Ave.). Fishing is also allowed on the south side of the river from Sherman Park to Bayou Bend Park and Grace Larson Park to St. Mary's Park, near McDonald's. | ||
| Charles City WhiteWater at Riverfront Park | Charles City | Town | Whitewater kayaking and access for canoes[4] | ||||
| Charley Western Recreational Trailway | Charles City | Y | Y | Town | Bicycle/hiking trail, runs approximately 5.2 miles through and around Charles City, portions along the Cedar River, part is a rail trail of the former Charley Western Railroad[5] [6] | ||
| Colwell Park | Colwell | Y | Y | Y | County | 19 acres, features free primitive camping areas and pit toilets, and a playground. Access to Little Cedar River. | |
| East Idlewild Park | Floyd | Y | Iowa DNR | Parking at south trailhead is located at intersection of Ocean Avenue and 130th Street, hiking is possible along old road that leads to Cedar River. | |||
| East Park and Rudd Lake | Rudd | Y | Y | Y | County | 12 acres, campsites with grills, playground, shelter, paved trails, fishing jetty. Bicycle/hiking trail, trailhead is located at beach parking lot, one lap around lake equals 9/10 mile.[7] | |
| Edna Pelz Wildlife Area | Charles City | Y | County | 24 acres, access to Little Cedar River | |||
| Fossil & Prairie Park | Rockford | Y | County | Features hiking trails through native prairies, a fossil quarry where visitors can collect Devonian fossils and a nature center for environmental education.[8] [9] | |||
| Gates Bridge Access | Greene | Y | Y | Y | County | A free primitive camping area with six sites, allows canoers and boaters access to the Shell Rock River. | |
| George Wyatt Park & Campgrounds | Rockford | Y | Y | Y | Town | Features 24 campsites with trailer dump and showers, a boat ramp available and fishing.[10] | |
| Happy Acres | Marble Rock | Y | Y | County | 40 acres, access to Flood Creek | ||
| Howard's Woods Recreation Area | Nashua | Y | Y | Y | County | 20 acres, managed by Chickasaw County Conservation Board. Primitive camping, hiking, river fishing, shelter, woodland.[11] | |
| Joney Laudner Family Nature Preserve | Rockford | County | Recreated prairie pothole, attracts waterfowl in spring and fall migration season | ||||
| Koebrick Wildlife Area | Marble Rock | Y | County | 40 acres, access to Flood Creek | |||
| Marble Rock City Park | Marble Rock | Y | Y | Town | 10 acres, access to Shell Rock River, camping with electrical hookup[12] | ||
| Mathers Woods | Nora Springs | Y | Y | Town | Nature preserve, trail follows old road towards Shell Rock River | ||
| River Road Canoe Launch | Floyd | Y | County | Cedar River access, parking at canoe launch point northeast of River Road Bridge | |||
| Rockford Public Access | Rockford | Y | Town | Access to Winnebago River at south end of 2nd St. Southwest, fishing best done by canoe. | |||
| Rotary Park | Floyd | Y | Y | County | 43.116428915878465,-92.70654201507568 | Cedar River access, parking at canoe launch point northeast of River Road Bridge, picnic shelter | |
| Rotary Wildlife Area | Floyd | County | |||||
| Shell Rock River City Park | Nora Springs | Y | Town | Access to Shell Rock River, dam, located at west end of 6th St NW. | |||
| South Hawkeye Avenue Bridge | Nora Springs | Y | Town | Access to Shell Rock River, parking at the end of S. Hawkeye Ave. or on other side of bridge, public fishing is allowed on south side of river. | |||
| Tosanak Recreation Area | Marble Rock | Y | Y | County | 370 acres, access to Shell Rock River, reservable cabins, lodges and picnic shelters, also primitive camping[13] | ||
| Trowbridge Marsh | Charles City | Y | Town | Wetland habitat | |||
| Wentlands Woods | Floyd | Y | County | 102 acres of forest, trailhead is at the parking area near Quail Ave and 150th St., hiking trail is crushed limestone that circles the park, seasonal hunting | |||
| West Idlewild Park | Floyd | Y | Y | Y | County | 50 acres, primitive camping along the Cedar River, activities include bird watching, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnicking. | |
| Winterink Woods | Charles City | Y | County | 40 acre wooded hunting area, parking is north of the intersection of Utopia Ave and 227th St. on Utopia Ave. | |||