Pilot Knob State Park

If you want to camp with your pup in a scenic and historic park, Pilot Knob State Park is perfect for you! This campground offers 65 campsites, and 48 of these sites have electric hookups. The campground is open year-round, but be aware that the shower building is only open during the summer months. The nightly rates for this fun-filled campground begin at $11 for non-electric sites and $16 for sites with electric hookups.

If you and your dog enjoy hiking together, Pilot Knob has numerous beautiful trails you can explore. If you want to go on a short trek to an observation tower, hop on the 0.2-mile Tower Trail. This historic observation tower was built in the 1930s, and it provides amazing views of the park and its surrounding area. The Tower Trail also connects to the 0.8-mile Plum Alley Trail, allowing you to easily extend your hike.

Pilot Knob is also home to the stunning 0.7-mile Dead Man’s Lake Trail. This trail takes you around Dead Man’s Lake, which is the only sphagnum bog in Iowa. The lake is surrounded by native trees and pond lilies, and many waterfowl live in the lake. You and your pup will both have a great time hiking around this lake!

Pilot Knob is also a good choice for fishermen and boaters. The park is home to the 15-acre man-made Pilot Knob Lake, which allows motorized boats. In winter, many people enjoy ice-skating or ice-fishing on this lake. If all this excitement makes you hungry, there’s a scenic picnic shelter right on the lake.

The pawesome Pilot Knob State Park is a beautiful park with a great campground filled with amenities you and your dog will love. Remember to bring doggy bags so you can clean up after your pup while you’re camping, and enjoy your trip to this furrific campground!