Newton Hills State Park
Rate this placeNearby: City Of Canton Park Canton Pool Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Newton Hills State Park is located in southeastern South Dakota, near the Iowa border.
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Summary
This state park offers visitors a wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, and picnicking. The park features over 1,000 acres of rolling hills, dense forests, and scenic vistas.
Some of the main attractions in Newton Hills State Park include the historic Newton Hills Lodge, which was built in the 1930s as part of a Works Progress Administration project. The lodge offers visitors a chance to experience rustic charm and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Other popular spots in the park include the picnic areas, playgrounds, and the swimming beach.
In addition to its natural beauty, Newton Hills State Park is also rich in history and culture. The park is home to several prehistoric Native American sites, as well as the remains of a 19th-century homestead. Visitors can learn more about the area's history by visiting the park's Interpretive Center, which features exhibits on archeology, geology, and local wildlife.
The best time to visit Newton Hills State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny. However, visitors can enjoy the park's beauty year-round, as it offers stunning fall foliage and winter snowscapes. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or an outdoor adventure, Newton Hills State Park is a must-see destination in the state of Iowa.
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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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