Prairie Rose State Park

Prairie Rose State Park covers a total area of about 661 acres of land near Harlan City in Shelby County, Iowa. To gain access to this park, simply travel about six miles east of Harlan. If you are traveling from the city of Walnut, the park is about eight miles north. Prairie Rose State Park was established in 1962.

Some of the popular features at the park include the sheer beauty of the topography including rolling hills that offer one of the most attractive recreational outdoor spaces in western Iowa. The park also offers water-based recreational activities through a 218-acre recreational reservoir.

Besides this majestic splendor at the park, other attractions that make this park quite popular among locals and other people from afar include fishing, camping, swimming, boating, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice boating, snowmobiling, sailing, and canoeing. 

These activities are made possible through several amenities made available at the park including about thirty campsites with non-modern restroom facilities, over fifty campsites with modern showers, electrical hookups and restroom facilities, picnic areas and open picnic shelters, trails, swimming beach, playground, fish cleaning docks, several fishing jetties, boat ramps, and the 218-acre lake.

Pets and specifically dogs are allowed into the park at no extra cost and there is, therefore, no need to leave your pooch behind. You, however, need to ensure that you observe park regulations and expectations in order to avoid harm to the environment, wildlife, other pets, and people in the park. Some of the rules that you need to observe include the following. 

First, you must ensure that your dog is always on a leash that is no longer than six feet long. Additionally, your dog should always be under your immediate attention and you should keep your dog in a secure enclosure to prevent your dog from venturing into the park unattended to (and when not on a leash). If you choose to camp at the park, you should ensure that you do not have more than two dogs/pets per yurt or cabin.