Parks, Beaches, & Trails
Undeniably, Okoboji in Iowa is a great destination, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. Aside from the myriad of Arts and Cultural places to visit, the region is also home to numerous parks, beaches, and trails accessible throughout the state, offering even more opportunities for families to choose from a plethora of fun and exciting things to do with their kids.
You and your friends can also have a quick trip to one of the stunning and pristine beaches in Okoboji and enjoy the refreshing breeze of the lake waves. Nature lovers and those interested in wildlife can also explore several nature centers within the region. Some of the activities offered by most nature centers in Okoboji include animal watching, wildlife observation, and many more!
If you are more into just having a relaxing time under the calming shade of sprawling mature trees, Okoboji also has you covered. The wealth of tranquil and quaint community parks accessible in different locations in the area provides an excellent spot for picnics while also enjoying breathtaking vistas of the neighboring lakes.
Abbie Gardner Park and Shelter House
379 Okoboji Grove Rd S, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
A historic community attraction in Arnolds Park includes a shelter house, the locally famous Abbie Gardner Cabin, and a playground. The shelter house offers ample seating space, ideal for family picnics.
Aspen Seeman Memorial Park
413 23rd St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Aspen Seeman Memorial Park opened in 2023 and includes unique play structures for children of all ages, interests and abilities. Come explore the tunnels and climbing nets, or challenge yourself on the 40 foot tall slide structure!
Arnolds Park Central Park
84 Dewey St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
One of the many parks in Arnolds Park features a shelter house and a playground open to all guests. The shelter house also caters free performances on its grounds. Come and listen to the music while taking in the view of the stunning West Lake.
Arnolds Park Preservation Plaza
37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
An ideal destination to visit if you like to watch free concerts and enjoy a fantastic fireworks display afterward. This outdoor facility is equipped with tables and chairs, fully manned bars, food options, and a large tent that can accommodate up to 300 people.
Bob Allen Park
25th St & Sunner Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
A well-maintained neighborhood park and is one of the newest parks in Spirit Lake. Visitors can take advantage of the playground equipment, sand play area, benches, and easy access to the bike trail available in the park.
Buchanan Park
1205 P Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
A charming recreational site in Dickinson County includes a basketball court and playground equipment for public use.
Calkins Park
P Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
Bring the family out to enjoy the park’s 9-hole disc golf facility and playground equipment, strategically located adjacent to various business establishments in Milford, Iowa.
East Lake Park
Great Lakes Spine Trail, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
East Lake Park, a beautiful addition to the myriad of parks in Okoboji, boasts its wonderful amenities, including a feature modeled after the famous Queen boat, gorgeous landscaping, plenty of parking, a public dock, and plenty of benches for the solace of its visitors.
Florence Park
903 J Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
Florence Park contains a covered foot space that can accommodate more than 100 people, making it an ideal location for your next open-air picnic, celebration, family event, or any social function. Parking is easy to get by, and the facility has concrete floors and tables and chairs for enjoyment.
Gilbert Park
601 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Gilbert Park is nestled on a substantial parcel of land with plenty of green areas for children to play and access the 500-feet shoreline of East Lake Okoboji. The park is home to a vast shelter house, two public floating docks, a basketball court, playground equipment, park benches, picnic areas, and handicap-accessible toilet facilities.
Gull Point State Park
1500 Harpen St, Wahpeton, Iowa 51351
A large lakeside park with a lodge, picnic spaces, and pathways for observing wildlife. Gull Point State Park is a popular camping site and one of the best places to enjoy the outdoors in the famous Iowa Great Lakes Region. The lake activities available in the park include swimming, paddling, water-skiing, or sail boating in West Lake Okoboji.
Harmony Park
37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Located right by Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Harmony Park is an amazing collection of interactive musical instruments. When played they are sure to bring a smile to the faces of all who can hear. These fabulous instruments are located in front of the Queen’s Court Shops. The instruments require no skill to play.
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
1838 IA-86, Milford, Iowa 51360
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, established in 1909 with learning, research, and water observation in mind, also functions as a nature preserve and historic district, providing students with a one-of-a-kind academic experience with small, comprehensive, comprehensive, field-oriented natural science classes.
Isthmus Park and Beach
116 Hill Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
A 5-acre dog-friendly facility with 1,000 feet of shoreline along Upper East Lake Okoboji. Visit the promenade, floating docks, and walking path, or stop by the picnic areas and grills for a late-afternoon bite. The site also features a canoe ramp, fishing piers, and handicap-accessible restrooms.
Johnny Jahn Park
2500 Center Lake Dr, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
A 3-acre park with a shelter house, picnic areas, playground equipment, a ball field, and public restrooms for the convenience of its visitors.
Kenue Park
22531 Nature Center Rd, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
Home of the Dickinson County Nature Center, Pollinator Paradise, Westport Schoolhouse and the Okoboji Gold Disc Golf Course, this almost 70-acre area is unique because of its oak savanna. The park also features meadows, an osprey nest, live trumpeter swans, and a glacial kame that offers a spectacular overlook of the surrounding area. Kenue Park accommodates picnics and has walking trails and modern restrooms.
Kettelson Hogsback Park
125th St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
A conserved beauty in Spirit Lake rests on 2,040 acres of land and is believed to be among the most bird-rich regions in Iowa. The facility extends from the west banks of Big Spirit Lake northwest up to the Minnesota state border. White lady slippers, prairie bush clover, prairie fringed orchids, wooly milkweed, and porcupine grass are just a few of the more than 270 species found in Kettelson Hogsback Park.
Kiwanis Park
1100 23rd St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Spirit Lake is the main attraction in this park, which also features a shelter house. You can relax and feel some air while having a picnic or spend time crafting art in an arts facility in the park. Families visiting the site can also take advantage of the playground for the children to play. Other amenities in Kiwanis Park include a trail system, park benches, grills, bicycle rack, picnic tables, and handicap-accessible toilets.
Lakes Area Dog Park
21729 155th St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Dog owners in Spirit Lake can enjoy a 6-acre dog park that serves as a haven to exercise dogs. The layout of the six-acre dog park allows for creating two separate dog zones – one for large dogs and one for smaller/timid dogs.
Little League Park
2600 Erie Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
This facility features six tennis courts, multiple pickleball courts, three ball diamonds, and playground equipment. Handicap-friendly restrooms are also available on site.
Memorial Park
300 Lake St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
A 10-acre memorial park offers access to two shelter houses, a splash pad, bike paths, and walking trails. Guests can also take advantage of convenient lake access that stretches for about 1500 feet of the shoreline of East Lake Okoboji. Other amenities available in the park include picnic tables, grills, horseshoe court, park benches, and accessible restrooms, as well as two handicap-accessible piers and two fishing/boat docks.
Millstone Park
1212 Okoboji Ave, Milford, Iowa 51351
Millstone Park in Milford serves as a gateway to the Iowa Great Lakes, honoring the city’s history of water-driven mills. The art offers changing shapes and shadows, inspired by the 1869 sawmill. Visitors can enjoy seating, shade, and interactive elements like projected Okoboji water imagery. The park also features time capsules to be opened every 25 years.
Sawmill Park
314 Rohr St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Another fantastic family park in the region, located at Arnolds Park, features newer playground equipment as well as a basketball hoop. In addition, the park has dock/lake access and a shelter house.
Speier Park
1709 Sanborn Ave, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
Thanks to the plethora of sprawling trees around the park, a quaint community park in Okoboji with generous natural shade. Other amenities accessible on the site are handicap-friendly restrooms, newly developed courts, a new open-air seating area along with picnic areas, and electrical outlets for the comfort of its visitors.
Ainsworth-Orleans Beach
25050 140th St, Orleans, Iowa 51360
Ainsworth-Orleans Beach is one of the top locations to take in the grandeur of the water, and it also provides a variety of recreational activities for its visitors, including picnics, family playtime, swimming, and more!
Arnolds Park Amusement Park Beach
37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Arnold’s Park’s coveted beach provides you with the opportunity to participate in exciting water sports such as paddle boarding, parasailing, and more. Arnolds Park Amusement Park Beach has everything you need to have a good time, creating a sandcastle or dominating your buddies on the sand volleyball court.
Arnolds Park Public Beach
389 US-71 N, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
Arnolds Park Public Beach, which has a beautiful dock where you can rest and take in the breathtaking water views, is well worth a visit if you’re looking for a place to enjoy a peaceful and magnificent sunset ambiance.
Marble Beach
2320 240th Ave, Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Marble Beach is part of Marble Beach State Recreation Area is a 64-acre state recreation area in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States, near the city of Orleans. The recreation area is located on the western shore of Big Spirit Lake and is one of several state parks and recreation areas in Iowa Great Lakes region.
Okoboji Boat Works Beach
1401 Lake Shore Dr, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
A dog-friendly beach in Marina District in Smith’s Bay, West Lake Okoboji. Visitors can not only experience a fun swim at the beach but also a playground for the kids and an antique nautical display for everyone to enjoy.
Terrace Park Beach
1600 Okoboji Blvd, Milford, Iowa 51351
One of the most stunning and pristine beaches in Okoboji, Iowa, Terrace Park Beach is home to gorgeous natural sand. It was previously known as ‘Green’s Beach’ and is now one of Okoboji’s best swimming areas in the region.
Dickinson County Nature Center
22785 Nature Center Rd, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51355
This nature center, which includes live animal watching, an indoor beehive, a bat cave, and other educational displays, is a fantastic place for kids to learn about wildlife while also getting them to be more active outside. An attraction of the park is the Pollinator Paradise, which includes a Nature playscape, pathways, disc golf, and the Westport Schoolhouse. The park also includes a children’s space area and brand-new artworks.
Elinor Bedell State Park
1619 260th Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Elinor Bedell State Park, established in 1998, is located on East Lake Okoboji and preserves one of the last open spaces in this popular tourist region. The 80-acre park features 8 RV campsites with full hookups, a tent camping area, a playground, and a rentable lakeside shelter with a kitchenette and fireplace. Park activities include hiking, fishing, and biking.
Emerson Bay State Park
3100 Emerson St, Wahpeton, Iowa 51351
Are you planning to have a fun and relaxing family picnic? Come and visit Emerson Bay State Park, a popular leisure site in Wahpeton, Iowa, that exhibits splendid views of West Lake Okoboji. Other remarkable features of the park include an open grass recreation area, a playground, and a shelter near a sandy beach.
Gull Point State Park – Barney Peterson Memorial Trail
1500 Harpen St, Wahpeton, Iowa 51351
A 1.5-mile hike features an island bounded by West Lake Okoboji and a canal. Head over to Gull Point State Park – Barney Peterson Memorial Trail if you want to get up close and personal with nature, watch out for wildlife, find wildflowers, feel the rough bark or soft leaves of a tree and breathe in the fresh scent of pine and cedar trees.
Horseshoe Bend
1924 240th St, Milford, Iowa 51351
A 180-acre preserve with a trail system runs along the Little Sioux River. You’ll be surrounded by a rich range of species with an upland forest, pastures, marshes, and oxbow ponds. Horseshoe Bend provides a unique opportunity to experience nature firsthand.
Iowa Great Lakes Trails
389 US-71, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51355
A 14-mile trail traverses its way all around lakes and the Iowa Great Lakes region, passing through West Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Arnolds Park, Okoboji, Milford, and Lake Park. The site provides a variety of outdoor activities, spanning from its famed blue lakes and beautiful beaches to more tranquil nature locations.
Judd Wildlife Area
1987 250th St, Milford, Iowa 51351
Located along the Little Sioux River, this 236-acre wildlife area includes open meadows and a winding prairie stream with a softwood forest along the river’s edge. The area is home to a variety of mammals, birds and other vertebrates. Recreational opportunities include hunting, fishing and canoeing.
Mini Wakan State Park
24490 100th St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Located on Big Spirit Lake’s North Side, Mini Wakan State Park offers year-round outdoor recreation. It is home to a 20-acre park, established in 1933, and features a popular campground with 112 sites, modern amenities, and a beach perfect for swimming. The lakes are prime spots for fishing, with species like walleye, northern pike, bass, perch, and more.
Okoboji Gold Disc Golf Course
22531 Nature Center Rd, Okoboji, Iowa 51355
Guests of any skill level are welcome at Okoboji Gold Disc Golf Course, offering beginner and professional-level concrete tee fields and leading disc golfers through various environments, including a rehabilitated oak savanna. The course is also home to a lovely walk in a picturesque, natural region full of blooming wildflowers and plenty of bird species during the summer.
Pikes Point State Park
15973 213th Ave, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
With a stone gazebo, a sandy beach, and boat docks, Pikes Point State Park is one of Spirit Lake’s most popular swimming and picnic destinations in the area.
Tatanka Ska Trace Trailhead
1480 Lake St, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Tatanka Trace is a developing 37-mile rail-trail in the Iowa Great Lakes region, named after the Lakota Sioux word for “white buffalo.” Currently, 11 miles are paved, running between Spirit Lake and Lake Park. The trail connects to the Iowa Great Lakes Trail at the Tatanka Ska Trailhead, which offers restrooms, picnic areas, benches, a bike repair station, and a charging station.
Templar State Recreation Area
13185 S Templar Dr, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
Templar State Recreation Area, located in Orleans, Iowa, is a popular site for outdoor enthusiasts. It has an open picnic shelter and readily available restrooms. In addition, the park provides access to a boat port and various fishing spots along the shoreline of Big Spirit Lake.
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