Pikes Timber Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Pikes Timber Park, located in Iowa, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.


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Summary

The park is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including hardwood trees, wildflowers, and wildlife such as deer and birds. Visitors can enjoy a range of recreational activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and picnicking.

One of the main highlights of Pikes Timber Park is the 40-acre lake, which offers fishing opportunities for species such as bass, catfish, and crappie. The park also has several hiking trails, including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, which stretches for 52 miles and offers scenic views of the park.

Another point of interest at Pikes Timber Park is the historic Pikes Peak Schoolhouse, which was built in 1869 and is now a museum. Visitors can learn about the history of the area and view artifacts from the schoolhouse's past.

Interesting facts about Pikes Timber Park include that it was once used as a logging site in the early 1900s and was later acquired by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for recreational use. The park is also home to a variety of rare and endangered plant species, including the eastern prickly pear cactus.

The best time of year to visit Pikes Timber Park is in the spring and summer months when the weather is mild and wildflowers are in bloom. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can also enjoy the fall foliage and winter activities such as ice fishing and snowshoeing.

Overall, Pikes Timber Park offers a unique blend of natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and historical significance, making it a must-visit destination in Iowa.

       

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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.
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