Easter Lake Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Easter Lake Park is located in Polk County, Iowa, and offers visitors plenty of reasons to explore the area.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

The park covers over 1,200 acres and features a 178-acre lake that offers a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year.

One of the main attractions at Easter Lake Park is the lake itself, which provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. Visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and canoes from the park's boat rental shop. There are also several miles of hiking and biking trails that wind around the lake and through the park's wooded areas.

Other points of interest at the park include a beach area, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a disc golf course. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, deer, and other small mammals.

One interesting fact about Easter Lake Park is that it underwent a major restoration project in the early 2000s to address problems with water quality and sedimentation in the lake. The project included dredging the lake and building several wetlands and rain gardens to help filter and clean the water.

The best time of year to visit Easter Lake Park depends on the activities you're interested in. Summer is a popular time for boating, swimming, and other water activities, while the fall is a great time to hike and enjoy the changing colors of the foliage. Winter offers opportunities for ice fishing and snowshoeing, and the park's disc golf course is open year-round, weather permitting.

       

Weather Forecast

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.
Related References
View more

Featured Parks