Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is a 6500-acre area, making it one of the largest recreation areas in Iowa! It’s an ideal place to go hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping (and more!) in North-Central Iowa. So, make a plan to visit Brushy Creek for your next outdoor adventure.
The good news is, it’s a little over an hour’s drive north of Des Moines, near Fort Dodge!
A Brief History of Brushy Creek State Park
Brushy Creek has been public land since 1968, but it didn’t become a recreation area until the 1990s. The dam was completed in 1998, creating the 690-acre Brushy Creek Lake – the deepest artificial lake in Iowa.
Things to Do at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Hike, bike, or ride on over 45 miles of trails!
With over 45 miles of multi-use trails, there’s something for everyone here. Hike or ride your mountain bike around the 12-mile gravel loop trail surrounding the lake. Or explore many other trails throughout the area. Trail surfaces are grass, dirt, and gravel.*
Horseback riding is also a popular way to explore miles of trails! Two modern equestrian campgrounds are some of the best in the state. There are equestrian day-use areas too.
Snowmobile and cross country ski in the winter
The trails allow you to get outdoors in the winter too! All routes are open to snowmobiles in the winter (except the campground trail).
*Please check the park map before heading out. A couple of trails have water crossings that may be too deep for hikers and bikers. Also, please respect other trail users. Hikers and bikers should allow horses to pass.
Spend a day on the beach
Cool off at the lake on a hot summer day! Rent a picnic shelter or beach cabana and spend a day soaking up the sun at the beach. Four beach cabanas and the shelters are available by reservation (otherwise, first-come, first-serve). Find the beach on the lake’s west side.
Go camping
Whether you’re bringing a horse or not, Brushy Creek is a great place to go camping! The park has three modern campgrounds, two equestrian and one non-equestrian.
The Beach campground is non-equestrian, with 47 electric sites (& some full hookups). It’s close to the beach and boat ramp, so it’s super convenient.
The two equestrian campgrounds have over 200 campsites combined. In fact, Brushy Creek has some of the best equestrian camping in Iowa, with many amenities (and lots of trails to explore).
Fish at Brushy Creek Lake
The fishing is excellent in this 690-acre lake! Walleye, Muskellunge, and Channel Catfish get stocked there. And there are so many places to fish! An accessible fishing pier is on the west side of the lake. Shore fishing is easy from any of the eight fishing jetties. And if you want to fish on the lake, there are four boat ramps too (no-wake speeds). There’s a fish cleaning station as well.
Kids get in on the fishing fun during the annual fishing derby each spring! And fishing tournaments are a regular occurrence on the weekends.
Boating
Brushy Creek Lake is a no-wake lake (5 mph or less), so it’s ideal for taking your boat to go fishing or explore the lake! Four boat ramps are at the lake.
Have a picnic
Three picnic shelters are available for reservation, otherwise first-come, first-serve. There are also several other picnic areas along the lake shores.
Hunt
Since Brushy Creek Recreation Area is so large, it’s popular among hunters. Hunt for pheasant, deer, turkey, and more in the vast expanse of public land.
And for some shooting practice, there are two shooting ranges nearby. A target range is on the park’s southwest side. And a trap range is northeast of the park at 2451 Taylor Ave, Duncombe, IA 50532.
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area Campgrounds
All campgrounds at Brushy Creek have modern amenities. Modern restrooms/showers are open during the warm months. And there are hydrants and dump stations at each location. Many campsites are available by reservation, and you can see the campground maps here.
Non-Equestrian Beach Campground
The non-equestrian campground is near the beach on the west side of the lake. There’s not much shade in this campground, as it’s newer.
- 47 electric campsites; 8 full hookups
- Gravel pads (Back-in; full hookups are pull-through)
- Buddy sites available
- Playground
- Boat ramp nearby
North Equestrian Campground
The north equestrian campground is on the lake’s northwest side, and some sites have a bit of shade.
- 125 campsites
- 50 electric sites
- 75 non-electric sites
- Gravel pads (back-in)
- Youth group site
- Playground
- Arena
- Horse wash area
- Hitch rails
- Manure bunkers
South Equestrian Campground
The south equestrian campground is on the park’s southwest side, off 290th St. Some sites have shade, others not so much.
- 90 campsites
- 70 electric sites, 8 full hookups
- 22 non-electric sites
- Gravel pads (mostly back-in, full hookups are pull-through)
- Buddy sites available
- Playground
- Arena
- Horse wash area
- Hitch rails
- Manure bunkers
Map
Things to Do Nearby
Dolliver Memorial State Park is a fantastic 594-acre park, just 7 miles west of Brushy Creek. Go there to explore ancient sandstone formations, limestone bluffs, canyons, and more! The landscape is so different, you won’t remember you’re in Iowa.
Gypsum City OHV Park is 15 miles northwest of the park, on the south side of Fort Dodge. The 800-acre park has 60 miles of ATV trails and a motocross track. There are also picnic areas, a campground, and fishing ponds!
If you’re looking for more things to do, head to Fort Dodge. There you can grab a bite to eat, tour a museum, go swimming, golf, and more!
Visit Brushy Creek State Recreation Area Today!
Brushy Creek State Park is at 2802 Brushy Creek Rd, Lehigh, IA 50557.
