Brushy Creek Wildlife Management Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The Brushy Creek Wildlife Management Area is a popular destination for nature lovers in Iowa.
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Summary
The area covers over 6,000 acres of land and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, pheasants, and quail. There are several good reasons to visit the area, including hiking and birdwatching, as well as hunting and fishing opportunities.
One of the main points of interest in the area is Brushy Creek Lake, a 690-acre lake that is popular for fishing and boating. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, catfish, and crappie, and there are several boat ramps and fishing piers available for visitors to use.
Other points of interest in the area include the Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, which offers hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a beach and camping facilities. The area is also home to the Brushy Creek State Trail, a 36-mile trail that runs through the heart of the wildlife management area and offers scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was once home to a large coal mining industry, and there are still visible remains of the mines scattered throughout the area. The wildlife management area was established in the 1960s to help restore the land after the mines closed down.
The best time of year to visit the Brushy Creek Wildlife Management Area depends on what activities you are interested in. Spring and fall are popular times for hunting, while summer is a great time for fishing and boating. The fall is also a great time to hike and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
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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