Saylorville lake cottonwood recreation area shelter 3 free#

The loans are free and on the honor system. Visitors can check out life jackets and return them when done. Oak Grove Beach is south of Sandpiper, west of Ankeny off of Highway 415. Sandpiper Beach is at Sandpiper Recreation Area, just south of Polk City. Saylorville Lake has two public swimming beaches, both on the east side of the lake. The further north you go, the more shallow it becomes. Much of this area is a non-motorized vessel zone between April 1 – August 31.

Use extreme caution north of the Mile Long Bridge.

On busy weekends, you might have to wait for an open lane at the ramps.

Call ahead to make sure the boat ramps are open: 51, then 30#.

When water levels are high, boaters may encounter debris and closed ramps.

Check lake levels before heading out on the water.

There are day-use fees of $5 to use the boat ramps, or you can buy an annual pass for $40.

Important information on boating at Saylorville Lake:

Lincoln Access (by the Mile Long Bridge Polk Co.

Cherry Glen (Open all year Corps of Engineers).

Lakeview (Open March – November Corps of Engineers).

Sandpiper (Open March – November Corps of Engineers).

And Polk County Conservation operates a fourth boat ramp near the Mile Long Bridge.

The Corps of Engineers maintains three boat ramps. During normal lake levels, boaters enjoy 17 miles of lake to explore. Prairie Flower Campsite Go Boating at Saylorville Lakeīring your boat, or rent a pontoon boat at the Marina! Saylorville Lake is the place to go boating in central Iowa, whether you ski, tube, or want a leisurely day on the water.

Located on Camp Road near the intersection of NW 78th Avenue and Water Avenue in Johnston.

Bob Shetler is on the southern side of Saylorville, near the Visitor Center. It’s along the Des Moines River, so campers enjoy great fishing spots along the river and its backwaters.

Located at 10498-10534 NW Lake Dr, Polk City, IA, west of Hwy 415, near the marinaīob Shetler Campground is a grassy, compact campground near the spillway.

10 group sites with electricity (sites are in a circle around a greenspace/picnic area).

Spacious campsites, scenic lake views, and concrete pads make it a favorite among campers. It covers over 60 acres of prairie and woodlands and is close to Oak Grove Beach and the Marina. Prairie Flower Campground is the largest of the Saylorville Lake campgrounds.

Located at 4338 NW 94th Ave, Ankeny, IA 50021.

As one of the most popular campgrounds in the area, it has easy access to the lake, boat ramp, Neal Smith Trail, visitor center, and more. It’s a compact, wooded area on a ridge above the lake.

Located off of Corydon Drive near NW Beaver Drive, JohnstonĬherry Glen Campground is a 13-acre campground on the east side of Saylorville Lake, north of the dam.

29 electric sites, 54 primitive tent sites, and two group tent areas.

The lake is not visible from these campsites. Campers love the shade and beauty of the mature Bur Oaks in this quiet campground. To learn more about camping at Saylorville, see our Saylorville Lake Campgrounds article.Īcorn Valley Campground is a 26-acre campground on the west side of Saylorville Lake. And they fill up fast! To make reservations for a Saylorville Lake campground, visit. The campgrounds have beautiful views, clean facilities, and access to everything at Saylorville.

Saylorville Lake has four campgrounds with 530 campsites! And we think it offers some of the best camping in the Des Moines area.