• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Explore Des Moines
    • Explore Des Moines
    • Our 10+ Favorite Des Moines Parks
    • Nature Areas and Parks in Des Moines
    • Des Moines Bike Trails Guide
    • Principal Riverwalk
    • Best Hiking Trails in Des Moines
  • Camping & Cabins
    • Camping Checklist [+ PDF]
    • Camping With Kids
    • Ultimate List of RV Essentials
    • Easy Camping Food Ideas
    • Iowa State Parks With Cabins
    • Des Moines Campground Guide
    • A Guide to Des Moines RV Parks
    • Cabin Rentals Near Des Moines
  • About
  • Contact Us
Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors

A Guide to Dolliver State Park in North Central Iowa

DSMOutdoors

Dolliver state park

Dolliver Memorial State Park is a fantastic 594-acre park in North-Central Iowa. It offers a unique, scenic Iowa landscape. There, limestone bluffs tower over the Des Moines River Valley. Prairie Creek winds through a canyon with swirling sandstone formations. And native burial mounds rest above the river valley. 

The unique geographical features remind us of Ledges State Park. It’s a must-see! And the good news is, it’s an easy day trip from Des Moines.

A Brief History of Dolliver State Park

There are signs that the native Woodland Culture called this area home 1000 years ago. Burial mounds on the Des Moines River bluff give the best clues. Also, the Boneyard Hollow site is evidence that they drove bison off the cliff or trapped them there. (You can hike to the burial mounds and through the box canyon at Boneyard Hollow.)

Dolliver Memorial State Park became Iowa’s third state park in 1925. Several historic park structures date to the 1930s, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). You can see CCC quality and design at the park on the lodges, footbridges, and other features.

South Lodge
South Lodge
Boneyard Hollow
Boneyard Hollow

Things to Do at Dolliver State Park

Hike

The hiking is excellent here! Explore canyons, rocky bluffs, woodlands, and creeks throughout. See a trail map here. 

Boneyard Trail (~1 mile) runs along a ridge, where mature trees surround you as you wind above the valley. (We explored the ravine too!)

River Trail (.6 miles) is an easy trail that takes you along the shores of the Des Moines River.

Center Trail (1.4 miles) is a loop trail west of the campground. It connects to Boneyard Trail on the north and Copperas Trail on the south.

Copperas Trail (1 mile) is an interpretive trail through ancient sandstone formations. This trail is surreal, fun, and informative!

Indian Trail (1.2 miles) is the most challenging trail in the park. Steep climbs and switchbacks lead to the top of the bluff, near the burial mounds and a view of the Des Moines River.

Explore the Copperas Beds!

The Prairie Creek canyon transforms you into another world! Beautiful swirling sandstone formations (Copperas Beds) extend 100 feet above the creek. Explore them along Copperas Trail.

Copperas Beds
Copperas Beds
Boneyard Trail
Boneyard Trail

Kayak or canoe the Des Moines River Water Trail!

Whether you want a short float or a multi-day adventure, the Des Moines River Water Trail delivers! Choose your own adventure. The park’s boat ramp has a large gravel parking area. 

Dolliver State Park is access #283. Downriver access is at Lehigh (#280) and Deception Hollow (#276), or further south. Henderson Landing (#291) is the closest access upriver from, but the trail runs north of there too. Check out the DNR’s water trail map for more details.

Want to rent a kayak or canoe? Check with Webster Co. Conservation.

Dolliver State Park boat ramp
Des Moines River/Boat Ramp

Go fishing

Fish the banks of the Des Moines River! The area near the boat ramp has easy accessibility. Or bring your canoe or kayak to get out on the water.

Picnic

At the bottom of a winding hill off the park road, stop for a picnic! Several picnic tables are in a scenic green space among mature trees. Grills are available too.

Two 1930s CCC lodges each accommodate up to 100 people and are available by reservation. South Lodge is near the south entrance, and Center Lodge is by the campground.

Further down the park road, stop at the picnic shelter. It’s a great place for adults to rest while kids play on the playground nearby. It’s available by reservation and otherwise first-come, first-serve.

Hike to the burial mounds

For a good workout and rewarding views, hike up Indian Trail to the Native American burial mounds. At the top of the bluff are three mounds, two conical and one linear. Please be respectful and don’t walk on the mounds. (For Woodland Culture burial mounds near Des Moines, check out Woodland Mounds State Preserve.)

Drive through!

This park is great for a drive, especially in the fall! It’s long and narrow, with scenic views along the way. The road winds down through the hills and bluffs to the valley when you enter the park from the south. Cross the Prairie Creek ford, take in the river views, and see Boneyard Hollow.

Dolliver State Park Campground
Campground

Dolliver State Park Campground and Cabins

Dolliver’s campground overlooks the Des Moines River midway through the park. There are 22 electric sites, two of which are tent only. There’s also a youth group site and two family cabins. Family cabins sleep four and have electricity, a dorm fridge, stovetop, microwave, and sink. Also, modern restrooms/showers and a dump station on-site. And you can make reservations online. Go here for a campground map. 

Note on the campground: Some campsites are pretty short and cannot accommodate large RVs or trailers. Also, turns are a bit tight, and the dump station could be challenging for large units. If you have a large RV or trailer, you might consider camping nearby at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area.

The group camp is in a beautiful valley, surrounded by wooded hills and bluffs. There are ten camping cabins with modern restrooms/showers on site. Available by reservation only through the park office. 

Map

Dolliver Memorial State Park Map
Credit: Iowa DNR

Things to Do Nearby

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is 8 miles to the east. At 6500(!) acres, it ranks among the largest of the Iowa state parks. There are over 45 miles of multi-use trails and a 690-acre lake to explore, and a campground too!

Gypsum City OHV Park is 8 miles to the north, 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.

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 Dolliver Memorial State Park Today!

Dolliver Memorial State Park is at 2757 Dolliver Park Ave, Otho, IA 50569. It’s about 80 miles northwest of Des Moines, near Fort Dodge. 

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
PinterestSave

Filed Under: Camping & Cabins, Parks

Primary Sidebar

About Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors is a site dedicated to helping you find the best of everything outdoors in the state of Iowa. We’re native Iowans that, for over 25 years, camped, hiked, biked, and explored our home state. We encourage you to do the same.

There’s so much more to see and do in Iowa than many people imagine! Our goal is to help visitors and residents alike experience the best of our beautiful state.

Search

More Outdoor Fun in Iowa

Sign up for our seasonal newsletter on the best things to do and places to see!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    No spam, just four newsletters each year.

    Built with ConvertKit
    when to start seeds
    Ledges State Park
    Rv Essentials

    Recent Articles

    • Campgrounds in Iowa City & Cedar Rapids: The Best Camping in East-Central Iowa
    • Best of Northeast Iowa: Top 10+ things to see and do in the Driftless Area
    • Campgrounds in Northeast Iowa: The Best Camping in Northeast Iowa
    • Car Camping Essentials: How to get ready to car camp & gear you need
    • Winter Sowing Seeds: List of best seeds to winter sow and how to do it

    Categories

    Footer

    Categories

    Archives

    DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE

    We make no express or implied claims or warranties regarding this website or results from using the information, content, materials, products, or services on DesMoinesOutdoors.com.

    Everything you read on this site is for entertainment purposes only. We do our best to keep up with the latest info on parks, trails, and other outdoor activities. But things change, and we don’t always know. 

    Outdoor activities can be dangerous and unpredictable. Use of the information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com is at the users’ risk. Users recognize this risk and agree to hold us harmless for any liability from the use of information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com, including, but not limited to, bodily injury, death, property damage, sickness, or disease. We assume no liability for the use of this website, any information on the site, or any inconvenience or injury resulting from information on the activities or places on this site.

    This site may contain affiliate links. See the full disclosure here.

    Copyright © 2023 · Des Moines Outdoors