Bloody Run County Park

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Parks

Iowa

Nearby: Effigy Mounds National Monument Pikes Peak State Park

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Bloody Run County Park is located in northeastern Iowa and offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy.

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Summary

The park is best known for its scenic views, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities.

One of the main reasons to visit Bloody Run County Park is for its natural beauty. The park is situated near the Turkey River, and visitors can enjoy stunning views of the river and surrounding hillsides. Additionally, the park offers several hiking trails that wind through the forested areas of the park, providing visitors with the chance to see a variety of wildlife and plant life.

Another point of interest at Bloody Run County Park is its historic covered bridge. The bridge was built in 1877 and is one of the few remaining covered bridges in Iowa. Visitors can walk across the bridge and take in the scenic views of the river and surrounding area.

Interesting facts about the park include its name, which comes from a battle that took place in the area between settlers and Native Americans in 1839. Additionally, the park has several picnic areas, playgrounds, and camping facilities available for visitors.

The best time of year to visit Bloody Run County Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy the changing seasons and winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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