Nodaway Valley County Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Nodaway Valley County Park is a beautiful destination in Iowa that offers visitors a peaceful and relaxing retreat.
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Summary
The park is located in southwest Iowa, near the town of Greenfield, and covers an area of over 1,200 acres. Here are some good reasons to visit Nodaway Valley County Park:
1. Nature Trails: The park features several nature trails that wind through scenic woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. These trails are perfect for hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing.
2. Fishing: The park has several ponds and lakes that are stocked with fish, including bass, catfish, and bluegill. Visitors can enjoy fishing from the shore or from a boat.
3. Camping: Nodaway Valley County Park has several campsites available for visitors, with both primitive and modern amenities. There are also picnic areas with shelters and grills for visitors to enjoy.
4. Hunting: The park is open to hunting during the appropriate seasons, with deer, turkey, and pheasant among the game species available.
Some specific points of interest to see in Nodaway Valley County Park include the historic stone dam on the Middle Nodaway River, the restored prairie grasslands, and the diverse wildlife species that call the park home. Interesting facts about the park include its designation as an Iowa Important Bird Area and its status as a Dark Sky Preserve, making it an excellent spot for stargazing. The best time of year to visit Nodaway Valley County Park is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak.
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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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