Campgrounds near Clarion, Iowa feature prairie and woodland terrain with minimal elevation changes, making them accessible for most campers. Situated in the Des Moines Lobe landform region, the area has numerous small lakes and streams that provide water recreation opportunities. The camping season typically runs from April through October with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak months.
What to do
Hiking trails: Briggs Woods Park offers numerous woodland paths with varied terrain. "We LOVE the hiking trails. Some can be a pretty good workout & steep for a 61 year old, but they are do-able & have resting benches along the way," notes a camper at Dolliver Memorial State Park.
Kayaking and canoeing: Local lakes and rivers provide paddling opportunities for various skill levels. At Briggs Woods Park, visitors have "access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing."
Stargazing: Limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing conditions. One camper at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area noted, "The stars were so bright! This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie... Very little light pollution."
Fishing: Multiple species available in local lakes and rivers. A visitor to Beed's Lake mentioned, "I was surprised to see a school of muskie while fishing, but it appeared that they were spawning at the time. If you go camping in May, make sure to bring a slightly heavier fishing pole to handle the musky."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites. At Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, "The campsites were nice and the lake and stream were very nice as well... If you go camping in May, make sure to bring a slightly heavier fishing pole to handle the musky."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower houses are frequently mentioned. At Beed's Lake State Park, visitors note the "very well maintained campground in a small but lovely park. Host was very nice... Loved our tent site with a short walk to the lake and clean bathrooms."
Mature trees: Many sites feature established shade trees. A camper at Briggs Woods Park observed, "The wonderful thing about the park is the magnificent trees," while another noted, "We stayed in the back. We had water/power but no sewer hookup."
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds provide dedicated swimming areas. At Lake Cornelia Park, there's a "very nice swimming beach. We also enjoyed walking on the many trails," and another visitor mentioned it's "great for families with kids. Very clean bathrooms. Parks all around. You can boat, jet ski, or swim at the lake."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close between October and April. At Eldred Sherwood Park, the season runs "April 15 to October 15," similar to many area campgrounds.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly between locations. At Briggs Woods Park, "Cell service is null, and no wifi. We do love the hiking over here!" For those needing connectivity, bring a satellite device or download content before arrival.
Site layouts: Some campgrounds have unique arrangements. At Beed's Lake State Park, "Easy access to most sites as many are parallel parking style. Lots of shade on the outer sites, plenty of tent sites as well." Another camper noted, "Over half of the campsites are parallel parking. That means if you don't know the person camping across from you, you'll be staring at a stranger just a few feet away."
Off-season discounts: Winter camping may be available at reduced rates. One visitor to Brushy Creek State Recreation Area found "Open for off season camping. 14$/night for full hookups with pull thru RV sites."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Many parks offer designated beach areas. At Dows Pool Park & Campground, "Has a pool if you're into that kind of thing," while Lake Cornelia Park is "great for families with kids. Very clean bathrooms. Parks all around. You can boat, jet ski, or swim at the lake."
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area features "a nice playground for the kids surrounded by a well maintained, large, grassy area."
Camping loops: Some parks offer group-friendly layouts. At Briggs Woods Park, "One area is good for a group of campers as the sites are in a circle. A walking bridge links the back loop to the other loop that has the bathhouse making it a shorter walk."
Beach amenities: Lake access points often include extra features. Lake Cornelia Park is "a beautiful county park with lots of camping sites with great views and generous camping spots. It is on a small lake that has good fishing, full hookups, and very nice swimming beach."
Tips from RVers
Site preferences: Some loops offer more privacy than others. At Briggs Woods Park, "upper camp ground has more single sites. As of 2020 more sites under construction both upper and lower area."
Hookup options: Electrical service varies between campgrounds. Dows Pool Park offers "Shady, quiet campground with electric & water hookups and a dump station... The pads are gravel and very level. You can easily bike into town."
Leveling considerations: Terrain can vary within the same campground. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, "Sites range from shady to sunny and the reservation website depicts the sites with a small photo and details about the amount of slope and shade."
Site dimensions: Some locations better accommodate larger rigs. A visitor to Briggs Woods Park noted, "We stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away. Very quiet park, we stayed in the back. We had water/power but no sewer hookup."
