Geode State Park

Geode State Park covers a total area of about 1,641 acres of land and is located about four miles southwest of Danville City, Henry County, Iowa. The park abuts Henry County and Des Moines County, is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and can be accessed through Iowa Highway 79 which is near Middletown or through County Road J-20 which is close to Lowell town.

One of the unique features of this park is the presence of geodes after which the park is named. The geodes are also Iowa’s state rock. That said the main attraction to the park is the 187-acre lake Geode that was constructed in 1950. Other features within the park including the lake, the beach house, and other buildings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) an initiative that was a part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal Program to provide work for unemployed Americans during the Great Depression.

Today, the park offers a lot of recreational opportunities to all sorts of visitors to the park. Some of the popular activities that can be enjoyed at the park include swimming, camping, biking, boating, hiking, cross-country skiing, and fishing. One of the best ways to get the most out of the park is by seeing the varied and attractive landscape is by using the 46-mile southeast bike route that connects Lacey Keosauqua State Park and Geode State Park. 

The vegetation along the route includes pastures, woodlands, and cornfields that can be found on both rolling hills and flat land. Amenities within the park include a variety of trails (hiking trails, biking trails, and nature trails), a playground, picnic areas, campsites, a boat ramp, and a lot more. 

You can bring your dog into the park for some fun and recreation as well at no extra cost. Some of the rules that you must follow with regards to your dog include the following. First, you must keep your dog on a leash that is no longer than six feet long. You must maintain immediate control of your dog at all times and avoid your dog straying aimlessly around the park. If you choose to camp at the park, you should be aware that there is a limit of only two dogs per dog-designated yurt or cabin.