Holloway Memorial State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 4, 2025
Holloway Memorial State Park is a beautiful natural area located in the state of Iowa.
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Summary
There are many good reasons to visit the park, such as its stunning views, tranquil surroundings, and abundance of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and boating.
One of the main points of interest in the park is the Holloway Reservoir, which offers excellent fishing opportunities for catfish, bass, and walleye. There are also several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the surrounding countryside, as well as a number of picnic areas and playgrounds for families with children.
Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former coal mine, and its status as one of the few remaining natural areas in the state that has not been extensively altered by human activity. Additionally, there are many rare and endangered plant and animal species that can be found within the park's boundaries.
The best time of year to visit Holloway Memorial State Park is generally in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors are welcome to enjoy its natural beauty at any time of the year.
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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.
Related References
Natural Area Holloway Memorial
Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Wildlife Management Area
Bayou Des Arc Wildlife Management Area
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge