Lake Of Three Fires State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 4, 2025
Lake Of Three Fires State Park is located in southern Iowa and is a popular destination for visitors looking for outdoor recreational activities.
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Summary
The park covers over 1,000 acres and offers opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, and boating.
One of the main attractions of Lake Of Three Fires State Park is its namesake lake, which is a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including catfish, bass, and crappie. The park also has several hiking trails that wind through the scenic woodlands, offering visitors the chance to spot wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and foxes.
Other points of interest in the park include a beach area, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. The park also has several cabins and campsites available for overnight stays.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was named after a Native American legend about three fires that were said to have burned on the shores of the lake. The park also has a unique landscape, with a mix of prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats.
The best time of year to visit Lake Of Three Fires State Park depends on the activities you want to do. Summer is a popular time for boating and swimming, while fall is a great time for hiking and enjoying the fall foliage. Winter is also a popular time for ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
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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
Bedford City Park
Windmill Lake County Park
Wilson County Park