Saylorville Lake is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in central Iowa! It’s located just a few miles north of Des Moines along the Des Moines River.
The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake project is designed to conserve water and protect natural resources. But it doesn’t end there. The 6000-acre lake and surrounding land are hot spots for outdoor recreation. Whether you want to camp, boat, fish, hike, bike, or soak in nature, Saylorville Lake has it all.
A Brief History of Saylorville Lake
The Des Moines River had a history of significant flooding that affected people, animals, and land around Des Moines. As a result, the government approved the Saylorville Lake project in 1958. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took over the project’s development and management.
Construction of the dam and spillway began in 1965 and was complete in 1975. And since it began operation in 1977, it’s helped control flooding in Des Moines and areas downstream.
Fun facts:
- The Saylorville Dam is a large earth dam, reaching 105 feet tall, 44 feet wide, and 6750 feet in length. Visitors can drive across it!
- The Saylorville reservoir stores 21.1 billion gallons of water – at normal levels. But at flood levels, it expands to 15,990 acres, storing up to 204.1 billion gallons of water.
But the story doesn’t end there. Saylorville is for more than just flood control. It’s a managed natural conservation area with a wealth of outdoor recreational activities too!
Things To Do at Saylorville Lake
Visit the Visitor Center
Kids and adults enjoy the interactive displays and movies at the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center on the dam’s west side.
Bring a penny for the penny press and shop at the gift shop, too (cash only)! And don’t miss the outdoor experience. You can hike a nature trail, take in the lake overlook, or walk down Neal Smith Trail to the Butterfly Garden.
Water fountains, restrooms, and vending are available, with free parking. We recommend you call ahead (515-964-0672) or check the website to see if it’s open before you go. (You can still enjoy the outdoor spaces even if it’s closed.)
Stroll the Butterfly Garden
From the visitor center, walk north on Neal Smith Trail to the Butterfly Garden. Over 20 unique flower beds and beautiful flowers draw many types of butterflies.
The garden is the perfect place for photos and kids to explore! Sometimes you see tadpoles swimming in the tiny pond area and spot deer in the surrounding woods.
Go Camping
Saylorville Lake has four campgrounds with 530 campsites! And we think it offers some of the best camping in the Des Moines area. The campgrounds have beautiful views, clean facilities, and access to everything at Saylorville. You can reserve campsites ahead of time. And they fill up fast! To make reservations for a Saylorville Lake campground, visit Recreation.gov.
To learn more about camping at Saylorville, see our Saylorville Lake Campgrounds article.
Acorn Valley Campground is a 26-acre campground on the west side of Saylorville Lake. Campers love the shade and beauty of the mature Bur Oaks in this quiet campground. The lake is not visible from these campsites.
- 29 electric sites, 54 primitive tent sites, and two group tent areas
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Playground
- Potable water
- Dump station
- DRY campground – no alcohol
- Located off of Corydon Drive near NW Beaver Drive, Johnston
Cherry Glen Campground is a 13-acre campground on the east side of Saylorville Lake, north of the dam. It’s a compact, wooded area on a ridge above the lake. 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.
- 125 electric sites
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Playground
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Boat ramp
- Located at 4338 NW 94th Ave, Ankeny, IA 50021
Prairie Flower Campground is the largest of the Saylorville Lake campgrounds. It covers over 60 acres of prairie and woodlands and is close to Oak Grove Beach and the Marina. Spacious campsites, scenic lake views, and concrete pads make it a favorite among campers.
- 153 individual electric sites
- 10 group sites with electricity (sites are in a circle around a greenspace/picnic area)
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Playgrounds
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Located at 10498-10534 NW Lake Dr, Polk City, IA, west of Hwy 415, near the marina
Bob Shetler Campground is a grassy, compact campground near the spillway. It’s along the Des Moines River, so campers enjoy great fishing spots along the river and its backwaters. Bob Shetler is on the southern side of Saylorville, near the Visitor Center.
- 67 electric sites
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Vault toilets
- Located on Camp Road near the intersection of NW 78th Avenue and Water Avenue in Johnston.
Go Boating at Saylorville Lake
Bring 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. During normal lake levels, boaters enjoy 17 miles of lake to explore.
Boat Ramps
The Corps of Engineers maintains three boat ramps. And Polk County Conservation operates a fourth boat ramp near the Mile Long Bridge.
- Sandpiper (Open March – November; Corps of Engineers)
- Lakeview (Open March – November; Corps of Engineers)
- Cherry Glen (Open all year; Corps of Engineers)
- Lincoln Access (by the Mile Long Bridge; Polk Co. Conservation)
Important information on boating at Saylorville Lake:
- There are day-use fees of $5 to use the boat ramps, or you can buy an annual pass for $40. National park passes work too!
- Check lake levels before heading out on the water. When water levels are high, boaters may encounter debris and closed ramps.
- Call ahead to make sure the boat ramps are open: 515-509-2015, then 30#.
- On busy weekends, you might have to wait for an open lane at the ramps. Please be courteous to other boaters.
- Use extreme caution north of the Mile Long Bridge. Much of this area is a non-motorized vessel zone between April 1 – August 31. The further north you go, the more shallow it becomes.
Go Swimming
Saylorville Lake has two public swimming beaches, both on the east side of the lake. Sandpiper Beach is at Sandpiper Recreation Area, just south of Polk City. Oak Grove Beach is south of Sandpiper, west of Ankeny off of Highway 415.
The swimming beaches
- Are day-use areas; fees apply.
- Have no lifeguards on duty.
- Are alcohol-free zones.
- Have running water (seasonally).
- Have restrooms (when open).
- Have life jacket loaner stations.
Life Jacket Loaner Stations
Visitors can check out life jackets and return them when done. The loans are free and on the honor system. Child, Youth, and Adult sizes are available. Stations are at Sandpiper Beach and Oak Grove Beach.
Saylorville Lake Marina: Rent a Boat or Eat at the Floating Restaurant!
The Saylorville Marina has everything you need for a day on the lake. They offer boat rentals, boat slips, and a restaurant & bar!
Restaurant
Fleetwood Restaurant and Bar—the only floating restaurant in Iowa—is a newly renovated restaurant and bar at Saylorville Marina. Enjoy delicious food with a view, plus live music and dancing!
Boat rental
Rent a 10-person Cypress Cay 23 Pontoon, 10-person Princecraft 23 Tritoon, or 8-person Aloha 22 Tritoon. All come with a Bimini top, Bluetooth, and the capability to pull a tube! Contact the marina for more information and to book a boat rental.
Practice Archery
In July 2021, the Saylorville Archery Range opened to the public! It has eight shooting stations with covered targets ranging from 10 to 50 yards. Shoot from ground level or the elevated shooting structure! There’s also a lane for archers with their own targets. Hours are sunrise to sunset, and it’s free to use. Rules, regulations, and procedures are on-site. Find the archery range at the entrance to the Bob Shetler Recreation Area. See the archery range brochure for more information.
Have a picnic
With a total of twenty-four(!) picnic shelters and lots of space around the lake, there’s no shortage of excellent picnic spots. All shelter areas have picnic tables, restrooms, drinking water, and playgrounds nearby. Some even have fireplaces and lake views!
For more information on each shelter, go to the Corps of Engineers site. Most shelters are reservable (at least four days in advance). If they aren’t reserved, they’re available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Bike or Hike the Neal Smith Trail
The Neal Smith Trail is a 25-mile, multi-use, paved trail near the Des Moines River. It starts in Des Moines, runs north through Saylorville Lake, and ends at Big Creek State Park. Thirteen miles of Neal Smith Trail are within the Saylorville Lake recreation area.
Neal Smith is a favorite trail, with its rolling hills and incredible views. Bikers and hikers enjoy the varied landscape, with dense woodlands, native prairie, oak savannas, and, of course, scenic views of the lake. And in the winter, put on your skis and snowshoes for a different experience of the trail!
During flooding, parts of the trail are underwater. Check trail conditions before you go. The interactive map of Central Iowa Trails can help you determine your route.
Go Fishing
Saylorville Lake is an excellent place to fish by boat or shore! The Iowa DNR lists nineteen popular fish species in the lake. It gets stocked with Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and striped Bass each year (2020 was an exception).
See the DNR website for information and fishing regulations and length limits.
Play Disc Golf
The Walnut Ridge Disc Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole course on the lake’s west side. It has a mix of open and treed holes with large concrete tees and some elevation. Golfers love the shade and cleanliness of the course and recommend using the map. Water and modern restrooms are on-site. The course is closed during the winter.
Paddle the Des Moines River
A popular water trail near Saylorville is the North Section of the Des Moines River Water Trail. The nearly 9-mile section of the Des Moines River starts south of Saylorville Dam. Hop on the river at the Cottonwood or Sycamore Access and float to Birdland Park in Des Moines.
For more information about this and other water trails in Iowa, check out this handy interactive paddling map from the Iowa DNR.
Know before you go!
Day-Use Fees
You must pay day-use fees for boat ramps, day-use areas, and beaches unless you have an annual pass. The cost is $5/day for one vehicle (including boat ramps) and $2/day if you walk or bike in. Children and campground guests are free.
Day-use fees get paid at the entrance to the boat ramps and beaches. If you have an annual pass, display it on your dash.
Buy annual passes at the Administration Office, 5600 NW 78th Ave in Johnston. Or pick them up seasonally at any of the campground entrance stations. You can use an America the Beautiful Interagency pass (National Park pass) if you have one – or buy one for $80.
Hours, availability, and conditions at Saylorville Lake
Depending on what you plan to do at Saylorville, you might want to call ahead or check the website for more information.
- Visitor Center: 515-964-0672
- Boat Ramps: 515-509-2015, then 30#
- Reservations: Go to Recreation.gov to reserve a campsite or shelter.
- Neil Smith Trail: conditions posted here.
- Events: Check out the Corps of Engineers website and Facebook page for more info.
- Educational programming: Request the form.
- To volunteer, complete this form.
Things to Do Nearby
Visit Big Creek State Park. Head a few miles north of Saylorville Lake, through Polk City, to Big Creek. There you can rent a kayak, go fishing, hit the beach, or play disc golf. The kids will love the enormous wooden playground by the beach!
Head north to Jester Park for a wide variety of outdoor fun! Kids will love to play on the natural playground, nature center, and miniature golf. Hike the trails, play a round of golf, go horseback riding, and much more. Campgrounds and rental cabins are available at Jester.
Take a quiet, peaceful hike at Margo Frankel State Park and let the kids find the “hidden” playground!
Head to Downtown Des Moines for many fun things to do! Tour the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, walk or ride the trails, visit the Des Moines Botanical Garden, or grab a bite to eat at one of the unique restaurants.
More on Saylorville Lake
Find Saylorville Lake a few short miles north of Des Moines, Iowa.
From I-35/I-80, take Exit 131, and head north on Merle Hay Road. To get to the west side of the lake, turn left on NW Beaver Drive. To get to the lake’s east side, turn right on NW Beaver and go straight onto NW 66th Ave. Turn left on NW Toni Drive and left on NW 37th. Turn left on Highway 415 to continue to the campgrounds and Marina.
Want more?
- Take a virtual tour of Saylorville Lake!
- See our article on Saylorville Lake Campgrounds.
- For FAQs on reservoir and dam operations, go here and here.
- Go to the Rock Island Corps of Engineers site for more information and the latest Saylorville Lake news.
