Pine Ridge Park

The campground is at the end of a road alongside the Iowa River, tucked out of the way. When driving in you pass a restaurant that touts it’s Sunday Pancake breakfasts. And of course I was coming in Sunday after there service seating time ended. But the other campers I talked with said it was outstanding. The campground is a small series of loops with tent and rvs mixed together. I would have thought the riverside sites would be the place to set up, but most stayed back from those sites due to the crazy up and down flooding the river has been experiencing. In the evenings everyone gathered at the pavilion for fresh popped popcorn and visiting. Just past the campground is the rifle range, but no one was using it so I can’t say how loud it would be. If you need an outfitter for canoeing or kayaking, there is an outfitter in town on the way to the campground. One other thing to note: there are no showers here, but at least the bathrooms were clean. 

Small with (almost) it all

I like this campground. It is right on the Iowa river near a takeout, so you can put in upstream and paddle down, or do as I do and paddle upstream and then back down (works when the water flow is not too swift).

  

This campground is quiet at night, but I will point out that it is near a popular members-only rifle and pistol range. It is very safe as the range points away from the campground into some large dirt mounds, but you may hear the continuous sound of gun fire during the day.