Bob Shetler Picnic Area
8 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
Bob Shetler Picnic Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam, and is a popular destination for shoreline fishermen.
Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Des Moines
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Des Moines for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
33places to see wildlife
8 mito the closest
10within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Cottonwood Recreation Area
8 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
Saylorville Lake
9 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Saylorville Lake Project is 26,000 acres, which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
Map of all 33 places
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Within 30 miles (10)
Bob Shetler Picnic Area
Bob Shetler Picnic Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam, and is a popular destination for shoreline fishermen.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Cottonwood Recreation Area
Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Saylorville Lake
The Saylorville Lake Project is 26,000 acres, which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Cherry Glen Campground
Cherry Glen Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
Cherry Glen Picnic
Cherry Glen Picnic Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Oak Grove Picnic Area
Oak Grove Picnic Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Acorn Valley
Acorn Valley Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
Sandpiper Recreation Area
Sandpiper Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990 with the mission to actively protect, restore, reconstruct and manage the diverse native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and sedge meadow.
- Biking
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
30 to 75 miles (11)
Fifield (Ia)
Fifield is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Whitebreast Point Shelter (Ia)
Whitebreast Point Shelter is a day use facility located within Whitebreast Campground. The shelter is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Wildlife viewing
Miner'S Retreat Enclosed Shelter (Ia)
Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
- Wildlife viewing
Whitebreast Camp
Whitebreast Camp is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia)
North Overlook Picnic Shelter is located adjacent from North Overlook Campground on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
South Overlook (Ia)
South Overlook is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Howell Station
Howell Station Campground sits just below the Red Rock Dam and Lake on the north side of the Des Moines River.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock is Iowa's largest lake and is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage and 15 minutes from Knoxville, Sprintcar Capital of the World.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake)
Bridgeview Park is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 13 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities at this waterfront recreation area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Ice Climbing
- Information Site
Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)
Prairie Ridge Park is located 6 miles, SW of the Jct of Iowa Highway 5 and J18 at Moravia. Awesome Sunsets- No Extra Charge! Rathbun's off-the-beaten path park offers unique opportunities for lover's of the outdoors.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
Rathbun Lake
Over 700 campsites are available at this 11,000-acre lake in the rolling hills of southern Iowa. Excellent camping, fishing, hunting, boating, state fish hatchery, and Honey Creek Resort, are major attractions.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
75 miles and farther (12)
Coralville Lake
Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreation, fish and wildlife management, forest management and water quality improvement.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Orphaned at age nine, Herbert Hoover left West Branch never to live here again. In later years, he returned to his humble birthplace to celebrate his long career of public service.
- Hiking
- History
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Iowa Wetland Management District
Iowa Wetland Management District includes 75 waterfowl production areas encompassing more than 25,000 acres scattered throughout 18 counties in north-central Iowa.
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Photography
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Located in north-central Iowa in the southeast corner of the Prairie Pothole Region, Union Slough is all that remains of a pre-glacial riverbed.
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Photography
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was established to recover fish and wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River and to restore essential wildlife habitat that became scarce after the river was "improved" for navigation half a…
- Archery
- Biking
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge was established in March of 1958 with the approval of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission with the dual intention of providing for the needs of migratory birds and providing public recreation to local…
- Archery
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
Glenn Cunningham Lake
Visitors here enjoy picnicking, no-wake boating, hiking, biking, nature trails, birding, disc golf, archery, and fishing. Horseback riding is also permitted in designated areas.
- Nature education
- Wildlife viewing
Standing Bear Lake
Standing Bear Lake, NE, located in northwest Omaha, is named for the Ponca leader Chief Standing Bear, and is operated by the City of Omaha.
- Wildlife viewing
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
The 24,149 acre Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of migratory birds and other wildlife. Although the U.S.
- Archery
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri, near Mound City.
- Biking
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Wehrspann Lake
Wehrspann Lake, NE, located in southwest Omaha is, operated by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District (NRD).
- Nature education
- Wildlife viewing
Zorinsky Lake
Zorinsky Lake, NE, located in west Omaha, was named after the late U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Des Moines. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Des Moines
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
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THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
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A local activity Short shared by Travel Tour.
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More outdoors near Des Moines
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Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Des Moines?
Bob Shetler Picnic Area (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 8 miles north of Des Moines as the crow flies. Next are Cottonwood Recreation Area (8 mi) and Saylorville Lake (9 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.