State Park Alerts & Closures

ROAD CLOSED: The road at Ambrose A Call has been closed for the 2025-2026 winter season. Please do not block the gate. Posted November 24, 2025.

Water Off: The water is off for the season at Ambrose A Call State Park. (Posted October 16, 2025)

Modern facilities throughout the park are shut down for the season.  This includes the shower buildings, dump station and modern restrooms throughout the park.  The cabins are open year-round.  Frost free hydrants will remain on until the end of October.

Posted 10-22-25

Water facilities will be closed October 21st 2025, bathroom and shower facilities will be closed for the season as well. Pit latrines will remain open.

Boat Docks: 12/2/25: All park docks (100th St, Marina, East, Williams Drive and West) have been pulled for the winter season. This bulletin will be removed when the docks are replaced in Spring 2026. 

Big Creek State Park: Posted: 10/20/2025: All modern restroom facilities in the park have been closed for the season. There are pit latrines open for use located at the Disc Golf Course, Universal Fishing Pier, Marina Boat Ramp, and Williams Drive Boat Ramp. This bulletin will be removed when the bathrooms have been re-opened in Spring 2026. 

Black Hawk State Park shower building will be closing October 21, 2025.  All outside hydrants and dump station will remain on weather permitting.

Beach and South Campgrounds OPEN:  The Beach and South Campgrounds are open and accepting walk-in, self registration through December 31st. Please call ahead for information on winter access.  All campgrounds will close January 1 and NO CAMPING will be permitted.  Due to campground renovations,campgrounds may be closed through mid-July. Until an official opening date is determined, reservations will not be accepted. Look for updates here and on the park office answering machine (515) 543 8298.

Modern restroom and shower buildings will be closed for the season October 16, 2025.  Off-season camping remains available after this date with electricity and water hydrants remaining on. A pit vault toilet is available in each campground. Buildings typically reopen mid-April. Please also check posted notices for upcoming campground closures due to campground renovations.

North Campground Closure Due to Renovation:  The north campground is closed for 2025 for major renovations.  (Updated April 15, 2025)

The Clear Lake State Campground is CLOSED December 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.

Created 12-1-25

Shower Building Closure: Both Modern Shower Buildings will be closed due to renovations. Construction is planned to be done by May 16, 2026. There will be port-a-potties available as well as the Vault toilet located near sites 11 and 10 available for use. This alert will be removed when the shower buildings are operational. (Posted November 20, 2025)

Lodge Renovation:  The Clear Lake Lodge will be closed May 1 - September 30, 2026 for repairs/renovation.  DNR can notify you if the project is completed sooner and the closure is removed, allowing for rentals. If you wish to be notified when the lodge reopens, fill out the following form, Clear Lake Lodge Google Form (Posted February 26, 2025)

Campground Status: The south half of the campground is currently closed through June 30, 2026, due to renovations. When the project is completed and a date to reopen is set, the IA DNR will send an email. If you wish to be notified when the south half of the campground reopens, fill out the following form: Clear Lake Campground Google Form. (Updated November 20, 2025)

Modern Shower Building, Restrooms and Dump Station are closed for the season.   The pit latrine and hydrant by the family cabins are open.  (POSTED 10/20/2025)

Water and buildings are off for the season

Elk Rock State Park entrance road will be closed starting Wednesday 12/3/25 through Monday 12/15/25, this closure is for a culvert replacement. Park users may park at the entrance and walk in. For further information or questions please call the poark office at 641-842-6008. Posted 12/1/2025. 

As of Monday October 20th 2025 all modern restrooms and shower buildings will be closed for the season. The campsite electricity and water hydrants will remain on year round. The buildings will be reopened in mid-April 2026. (Posted 10/1/2025).

Water and buildings are off for the season

CAMPGROUND CLOSURE:  Starting November 17th, 2025, the Fairport Campground will be closed for the winter.  It will reopen on March 16th, 2026.  The Pit Toilet will remain open year round.  (Posted 11/1/2025)

WATER SHUT OFF:  Water has been shut off, bathroom facilities have been winterized, and the Dump Station is closed for the season.  Water will be turned back on sometime around the beginning of May 2026.  The Pit Toilet will remain open.  (Posted 10/15/2025)

Water and buildings are off for the season

The Campground will be closed December 1st, 025 due to Heavy snowfall. It is gated off and will remain closed thru the beginning of camping season April 1st 2026

Due to incoming winter weather 11/28 thru 12/3 some of the roads in the park will be closed when heavy snowfall and icy conditions come into play. The following areas may be gated or barricaded due these conditions:

Shelter #1 Road, The Beach Area & Parking Lot, The Campground,  The intersection of Beach Road and Racine Ave. to the intersection of Hwy. J-20 & Lake Road.

Water is off for the season at the Campground & Beach

The Shower house in the upper portion of the campground has been closed for the season

Shelter # 4 area is no longer open to vehicles, and is gated off. The trail can be accessed from the next parking area immediately to the east of shelter #4 entrance. Please do not park in front of gates

Shelter #4 area and parking will be closed permanently July 1st 2025 when a gate will be installed. Access will only be available by hiking in from the adjacent parking lot to the east of the Shelter #4 entrance gate area. There is no longer a toilet or other amenities available at the site. Parking is not permitted in front of the gate.

George Wyth restrooms closed for the season and water is off. The campground will be closed Nov. 1, 2025-March13, 2026 to all camping.

Water and buildings are off for the season

RESTROOM CLOSURE: The south campground shower house will close 10/16/25 for the season. The modern restroom facility at the main boat ramp is now closed.  North campground shower house will remain open weather permitting until late October. All vault toilets in the park will remain open.   Modern restrooms will reopen in mid-April 2026. This bulletin will be removed when the facilities are open. (Posted 10/15/2025)

WATER SHUT OFF: All restrooms and showers in the campground have been turned off for the season. The dump station tower and nonelectric campground hydrants are also off for the season.  Shelter #5 bathroom and the beach hydrant will remain off due to a water leak. (Posted 10/20/2025)

As of Monday, November 3rd, 2025, the modern restroom facilities are closed for the season.  Anticipated re-opening date will be mid April, 2025.  (POSTED 11-5-2025)

Shower Buildings will be closed Thursday October 16th 2025 for the season.  They will reopen spring 2026.  

created 10/16/25

Please keep out of the lake bed.  Conditions of dried silt give the appearance of solid ground, when in fact the soils are very soft.  These conditions could lead to entrapment, if you fall into these spots. (Posted 7/23/24)

Lake draw down for renovations will begin Tuesday, July 9th.  Project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2026.  During this project, Lake Keomah will remain open along with camping and its amenities.

Facilities closing due to the renovations include the Beach and Lodge.

Shelters are at a first come first serve availability during this time and are not reservable (Updated 7/23/24)

Lake Keomah is scheduled for a major reconstruction project.  This will improve water quality, provide better amenities for park users and increase structure for fishing.  In order for this project to begin the lake will be drained.  As a result, a drawdown will start after July 4, 2024. Project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2026. (Posted March 11, 2024)

The modern restrooms at Lake Macbride's primitive campground are now closed for winter, as well as the fish grinding station in this location.

The shower building/restrooms at Lake Macbride's modern campground will be closing for winter Monday Oct 20th, 2025. Yard hydrants will remain on until the campground closes.

Both campgrounds will be closing November 16, 2025 for the winter. (Updated 10-15-25)

Attention: Minimal snow removal will occur at Lake of Three Fires this winter to preserve recent road work. For additional information, call the park office at 712-523-2700.

The trails at Lake of Three Fires State Park will be closed to all public use from Monday, Dec 1st, 2025 - Friday, Dec 5th, 2025 for trail maintenance. There will be heavy machinery use on the trails at this time making it unsafe for public travel. 

The restrooms, shower facilities and dump station hydrant at Lake of Three Fires State Park will be closed for the season begining Monday, 10/27/2025. The water hydrants will remain on until 1/1/2026. 

Park Closure: Park will be closed from Saturday, December 6th through Sunday, December 7th for the annual deer hunt. It will open back up on Monday, December 8th. (Posted 11/24/25)

Modern restrooms at the beach will be closed on 10/7/25 and the campground shower house will close on 10/16/25 for the season. Please contact the park office at 641-722-3371 with any questions. (Posted 10/7/2025)

FACILITY UPDATE:  All modern restrooms and shower facilities throughout Ledges State Park are CLOSED for the winter season. Portable toilets will be located along Canyon Drive and in the Ledges campground until November 30, 2025. All water hydrants in the campground are also CLOSED for the remainder of the winter season, including the rinsing tower hydrant at the RV dump station.

There will be one water hydrant ON until December 1st. It is located at the campground entrance and labeled with a sign that reads "Drinking Water".

The Canyon Drive is CLOSED to vehicle traffic and will remain closed for the rest of the winter season. This closure is due to forecasted hard freezing temperatures and the possibility of freezing precipitation; which will create hazardous travel conditions along the Canyon Drive low water crossings. Visitors can still hike into the Canyon area when it is closed to vehicles and the most convenient locations to do so include the Oak Woods picnic area and the Flood Pole parking lot.

This alert was updated on November 25, 2025.

Banquet Room Closure: Reservations for the Banquet Room will be unavailable beginning in 2023 for repairs and updates. The Banquet Room will be closed for reservations until further notice. If you would like to be notified when the Banquet Room reopens, fill out the following form: Lewis and Clark Google Form. (Updated February 13, 2024)

All modern facilities in the park, including the shower building have closed for the season they will reopen MAY 2026. Frost free hydrants remain on in the campground. Pit toilet is available at the youth group parking lot. (Posted October 27 2025)

The caves in the park are Closed every year from November 15th until April 1st as they server as a hibernaculum for overwintering bats. 

TRAIL CLOSURE: A section of the trail between Window and Match cave is closed due to boardwalk damage. Please do not enter this area. (Posted 8/30/2024)

Water and buildings are off for the season

Water facilities are now CLOSED for the season. This includes shower bldg, all restrooms, yurts, fish cleaning station and dump station. Camping rates are $18.00/electric and $10.00/non electric.     (posted 10/16/2025)

Water and buildings are off for the season

Effective November 3rd, 2025: Modern shower and restroom facilities will be closed for the season. Pit vault toilets remain available for year round use. The dump station hydrant and other hydrants will remain on. Facilities will re-open in April of 2026.

Lodge Viewings, Monthly: Open to the Public, No Reservation Needed, Lodge Viewings are scheduled for the third Wednesday of every month from 2 pm. to 4 pm. Park staff will attend the viewings to answer questions.

Water and buildings are off for the season

ROAD CLOSED: The through road at Pilot Knob State Park has been closed for the 2025-2026 winter season. Posted: November 25, 2025.

Water Off: The water is off for the season at Pilot Knob State Park. (Posted October 16, 2025)

Facilities: All modern restrooms and shower facilities at Pilot Knob are CLOSED for the winter season. Electricity at campsites will remain on. The dump-station will remain open with no running water. 

RESTROOM CLOSURES: Modern Restrooms and Shower Facilities are CLOSED throughout Pine Lake State Park. Water hydrants and dump station will remain on until freezing temperatures are forecasted. Vault Toilets are available at the Circle Point Shelter and Upper Boat Ramp. If you have any questions or concerns about these closures Please contact Park Staff via: pine.lake@dnr.iowa.gov 641-858-5832 (10/15/2025) 

RESTROOM CLOSURES: Modern Restrooms and Shower Facilities are CLOSED throughout Pine Lake State Park. Water hydrants and dump station will remain on until freezing temperatures are forecasted. Vault Toilets are available at the Circle Point Shelter and Upper Boat Ramp. If you have any questions or concerns about these closures Please contact Park Staff via: pine.lake@dnr.iowa.gov 641-858-5832 (10/15/2025) 

All water facilities are shut down for the season.  They will be turned on mid to late April 2026 as weather permits (Posted 10/21/26)

Due to a construction project in the campground - The 3rd campground (sites 43-55, 71) will close for the season on September 2nd, 2025.  The remaining campsites and cabins will close for the season October 5th, 2025.  

Water hydrants and the dump station are currently CLOSED until April 1st. An open hydrant is available between the buildings in the loop by the park shop. POSTED 11/6/2025

Effective October 17th, 2025: Modern shower and restroom facilities will be closed for the season. Pit vault toilets remain available for year-round use. Facilities will reopen in late April of 2026. -Posted 10/17/2025

Campground Closure: Campground will be closed for the season form December 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026

ROAD CLOSURES: Roads may be partially closed throughout the park as we are doing road repairs. (Posted 11/13/25)

Modern Restroom Facilities and Shower House are closed for the season. The Pit latrines will remain open, facilities will reopen in Spring of 2026.

Flush Restrooms and Shower facilities have been closed for the season at Rock Creek State Park Campground.     Pit latrines remain open around the park during off season months.   

EQUESTRIAN TRAIL CLOSURE: Effective August 8, 2025 the trails will be closed until flood damage from the 2024 flood damage. This  bulletin will be removed once the trails have been re-opened.  

Effective: January 1st, 2026 until February 1st, 2026, The Sherburne Cabin at Springbrook State Park will be closed for maintenance and renovation of the upstairs kitchen, office, and bathrooms. (Posted 12/01/2025)

Effective October 16th, 2025: Modern shower and restroom facilities will be closed for the season. Pit vault toilets remain available for year round use. Facilities will re-open in late April of 2026.

Then Effective October 27th, 2025 : Water Hydrants will be shut of for the winter and will be turned back on in late April of 2026. 

-Posted 10/06/2025

Forest Management in Progress: east portion of Whitebreast Unit. Shelterwood harvest being implemented on 99 acres of the state foret until March 31, 2026.

A shelterwood harvest is a forest management method that maintains a forest canopy all the while creating holes to increase sunlight penetration to the forest floor and influence oak regeneration and other native plants.

In order to have healthy forests with varying species diversity, plant composition, and age classes, then we must implement forest management where it is needed.

Stephens State Forest has a management plan that was written in collaboration with other natural resources professionals of all sectors the Iowa DNR. Each year the staff at Stephens work in a different part of the state forest to achieve the management objects that are listed in the management plan. This year, this part of the Whitebreast Unit was designated for management. 

You can access the forest management plan on the Stephens State Forest website: https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-forests/stephens-state-forest

If you have any questions or comments, please call the Stephens State Forest Headquarters at 641-774-4559. 

ATTENTION RECREATORS IN WHITEBREAST UNIT: There is an active timber harvest and heavy equipment use in the eastern and middle portion of the forest unit. Trails are being used for skidding and removing logs. If you have any questions, please call the Stephens State Forest HQ at 641 - 774 - 4559. Thank you.

Park Roads: The roads through Stone State Park have been closed due to inclement weather and will remain closed until the beginning of the 2026 recreation season. Parking lots are available at the East and West entrances of the park. (POSTED 12/4/25)

Stone State Park Water/Facilities: Water throughout Stone State Park has been turned off for the season. The shower building, modern restrooms, and hydrants willl remain unavailable until the 2026 recreation season. Pit latrines throughout the park are still accessible. (POSTED 10/24/25)

Water and buildings are off for the season

Facilities at Union Grove: Modern Restroom and Shower Facilities are CLOSED in the Union Grove State Park campground. Dump station and water hydrants will remain on until a hard freeze forces there closure. Vault toilets are available in the campground. If you have questions regarding this please contact park staff via: 641-473-2556 or union.grove@dnr.iowa.gov (POSTED 10/14/2025)

Modern Restrooms in Campground are closed for the season

Campground Restrooms area close for the season. All pit vault latrines will remain open for the winter. All water for the park will be shut off on November 3rd, 2025. The dump station will also close on November 3rd for the season. 

Campground Restrooms area close for the season. All pit vault latrines will remain open for the winter. All water for the campground will be shut off on November 3rd, 2025. The dump station will also close on November 3rd for the season. 

The Upper park road past the campground is now closed due to the winter conditions. The Upside down bridge is also closed limiting vehicle access in certain areas of the park. Hiking in this area is still allowed, but please use caution. The gates will reopen in the spring of 2026. 

Starting October 27th 2025, the campground shower building and playground restroom facilities will be closed. This includes hydrants and the drinking fountain. They will reopen May 1st, 2026.  

The campground will also be closed beginning November 1st. It will reopen April 1st, 2026. 

MODERN FACILITIES ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON: Modern restrooms and shower house are now closed. Pit latrines and frost free hydrants are still available for use.

Rental Faciltiy Closure:  All of the modern cabins (1, 2 and 3) and the Overlook shelter will not be accepting reservations from April 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026, the camping cabins (4 and 9) will not be accepting reservation October 16, 2025 - August 31, 2026,  camping cabin 5 will not be accepting reservations December 1 - August 31, 2026, and the lodge will, not be accepting reservations from January 1 - August 31, 2026 due to a waterline project.  If you want to be notified if the closure is modified, fill out the following form, Waubonsie Facility Closure Google Form (Updated July 18, 2025)

WINTER ROAD CLOSURE:  The through State Park Rd, from the Upper Picnic Area Shelter to the Lower Picnic Area Road, is closed for the winter.  It will reopen sometime in Spring 2026.  Visitors can still access the Park from the New Era Rd. entrance and the Verde Ave. entrance.  (Posted 11/25/2025)

CAMPGROUND CLOSURE:  Starting November 17th, 2025, the Wildcat Den Campground will be closed for the winter.  It will reopen on March 16th, 2026.  Pit Toilets will remain open year round.  (Posted 11/1/2025)

WATER SHUT OFF:  Water has been shut off, and facilities have been closed for the season.  The two vault toilets will remain open.  Water will be turned back on and facilities will be opened sometime around the beginning of May 2026.  (Posted 10/16/2025)

TRAIL CLOSURE:  The Cave Trail, from the Lower Picnic Area to the crossing at State Park Rd., will be closed until further notice, and repairs can be made. If you have any questions, please call the Park Office at 563-263-4337. All other Trails are open for use at this time. (Updated 9/16/2025)