Camping
Iowa

SHIMEK STATE FOREST

Amenities • Weather • Recreation

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CAMPING • IOWA

Shimek State Forest

May 5, 2024

Shimek State Forest Camping Area is located in southwestern Iowa and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding picturesque landscape. The campground is situated near the Missouri River, and visitors can enjoy hiking trails, fishing, and bird watching in the forest. The Iowa Arboretum and Lake Wapello State Park are also nearby points of interest.

The campground amenities include a shower house, restrooms, and picnic tables. There are 15 campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. An interesting fact about the area is that a portion of the forest was once a Native American village.

The best time to visit Shimek State Forest Camping Area is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild, averaging in the 60s and 70s. However, visitors can also enjoy the campground during the summer months when temperatures can reach up to the mid-80s. The area transforms into a stunning autumn landscape in the fall, making it an ideal time to camp and explore the forest.

Weather Outlook

16 Day Long Term Forecast

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Seasonal Comparison

Historical Data

Regional Streamflow Levels

Streamgauge	Streamflow	Gage Height
WOLF CREEK NEAR DYSART	430 cfs	3.6 ft
TURKEY RIVER ABOVE FRENCH HOLLOW CR AT ELKADER	1,630 cfs	7.6 ft
MAQUOKETA RIVER AT MANCHESTER	495 cfs	5.6 ft
TURKEY RIVER AT SPILLVILLE	536 cfs	4.0 ft
CEDAR RIVER AT WATERLOO	10,800 cfs	8.6 ft
WAPSIPINICON RIVER AT INDEPENDENCE	3,340 cfs	7.3 ft
WAPSIPINICON RIVER NEAR TRIPOLI	911 cfs	11.6 ft

Fishing Destinations

June Lake

Apache Trout • Brook Trout

Bayou Bartholomew

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Plum Bayou

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass

Butterball Lake

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • White Perch • Yellow Perch

Hickory Creek

Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Kelp Bass

Bayou Meto

Black Crappie • Black Sea Bass • Blue Catfish • Largemouth Bass

Lake Granpus

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Beaver Hut Lake

Black Crappie • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • Northern Pike • Walleye • White Perch

Cloquet Lake

Black Crappie • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • Northern Pike • Walleye

French Creek

Apache Trout • Bluegill • Kelp Bass

Wilson Brake Reservoir

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Collins Creek

Apache Trout • Brown Trout

Agassa Lake

Northern Pike • Walleye • White Perch • Yellow Perch

Mink Creek

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Kelp Bass

Bear Island Lake

Black Crappie • Kelp Bass • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

Langston Lake

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Cane Creek Lake

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Franklin St. Fishing Pier

Huff Street Fishing Pier

Crown Lake

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Green Sunfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • White Perch

Pine Creek

Apache Trout • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass

Bassett Lake

Black Crappie • Kelp Bass • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

Little Red River

Apache Trout • Cutthroat Trout

Brush Creek

Apache Trout • Blue Catfish • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Rainbow Trout • Smallmouth Bass

Trout Run

Apache Trout • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • Rainbow Trout

Bayou Cocodrie

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Pacific Cod

Barrs Lake

Black Crappie • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • Northern Pike • Walleye

Baldpate Creek

Kelp Bass • Muskellunge • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

August Lake

Black Crappie • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Northern Pike • Walleye

Delwein Lake

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass • Walleye

Cut-Off Creek

Black Crappie • Black Sea Bass • Blue Catfish

Cane Creek

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Coldwater Creek

Blue Catfish • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

Lake Monticello

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Dacota Street Fishing Pier

Basswood Lake

Apache Trout • Kelp Bass • Lake Trout • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

Bayou Macon Cutoff Number One

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass

Lake Meyer

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Glacier Pond 1

American Eel • Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Bluegill • Channel Catfish • Kelp Bass • Largemouth Bass

Beartrap River

Kelp Bass • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass • Walleye

Lake Cave City

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass

Glover Creek

Apache Trout • Brown Trout • Kelp Bass • Rainbow Trout • Smallmouth Bass

Otter Creek

Black Crappie • Blue Catfish • Kelp Bass • Walleye

Alruss Lake

Northern Pike • Walleye • White Perch

Rafting & Kayaking

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY 17 TO FORT LEONARD WOOD (ARMY BASE)
Big Piney Watershed, Missouri

CONFLUENCE WITH ALLEY SPRING (BRANCH) TO CONFLUENCE WITH CURRENT RIVER (DOES NOT INCLUDE RIVER SEGMENT IN GAP BETWEEN PARKLAND UNITS)
Current Watershed, Missouri

WOLF BAY OF LAKE VERMILION TO SECTION 26, T65N, R17W
Vermilion Watershed, Minnesota

THE MOST UPSTREAM PORTION OF OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS TO THE MOST DOWNSTREAM PORTION OF OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS
Current Watershed, Missouri

MARKAM SPRING RECREATION AREA TO NF BOUNDARY
Upper Black Watershed, Missouri

COUNTY HIGHWAY O, LACLEDE, COUNTY, MISSOURI TO OZARK SPRING
Upper Gasconade Watershed, Missouri

STATE HIGHWAY 49 BRIDGE NEAR DILLARD, MISSOURI TO FOREST BOUNDARY IN SECTIONS 13/24, T38N, R3W
Meramec Watershed, Missouri

NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF FORT LEONARD WOOD TO NORTH SECTION LINE OF SEC 31, T36N, R10W
Big Piney Watershed, Missouri

WESTERN EDGE OF OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS TO CONFLUENCE WITH ALLEY SPRING (BRANCH)
Current Watershed, Missouri

HEBRON ACCESS SITE TO SOUTHERN FOREST BOUNDARY IN SEC 33, T24N, R11W
North Fork White Watershed, Missouri

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