Waubonsie State Park

With almost 2,000 acres of quiet beauty to explore and enjoy, Waubonsie State Park is an Iowa favorite. Whether you love canoeing, camping, hiking, fishing, or just being amongst nature, you'll find plenty to keep you occupied here. Best of all, the park's campground is pet-friendly, so you can enjoy a camping vacation with your pooch by your side.

Located in Iowa's Loess Hills region, Waubonsie State Park offers remarkable vistas of the rare and unique topography for which the region is famous. It's also a site on the Lewis and Clark Historical Trail, so it's a great base from which to follow in the footsteps of those legendary explorers.

There's an extensive trail network within the park itself, providing ample opportunity for hikers to immerse themselves in a diverse range of flora and fauna. The Sunset Ridge Nature Trail is the most popular of the trails, leading you through forests of pristine hardwood timber and also offering spectacular ridgetop views of the Missouri River Valley.

Following the addition of the former Wa-Shawtee Girl Scout Camp to Waubonsie State Park in 2005, visitors can now also enjoy access to the seven-acre Lake Virginia. There's a new boat launch ramp provided, excellent canoeing and kayaking conditions, and the chance to fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.

If you're planning an extended visit, the pet-friendly campground includes electric and non-electric sites. Five of the park's seven camping cabins also allow dogs.

Of course, if you're traveling with your pet, you'll need to make sure to keep your dog on a leash of six feet or shorter at all times. Don't forget to also show courtesy to other park visitors and clean up after your pet.

Waubonsie State Park is a uniquely beautiful park with plenty to offer. Whether you're planning a quiet retreat or an action-packed getaway, you and your dog will feel right at home.