Description

Lake Keomah State Park is 366 acres of beautiful woods and water. Lovely shaded picnic areas are nestled between the arms of the 84 acre man-made lake. The park's name was derived from the first three letters of Keokuk and Mahaska counties. A portion of the south side of the lake was reserved for private development and many homes dot this side of the lake. The park was dedicated in 1934. Many of its facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Winter recreational opportunities include cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and a great hill for sledding and tubing.

Recreation:

Trails
A three mile walking trail follows the lake and wanders through the town of Keomah. If you plan to walk the entire trail, the north and east sides of the park do not have restroom facilities, so plan accordingly. The trail takes you through a variety of habitats, and the keen observer may get a glimpse of wildlife species that call these habitats home. The trail is a combination of grass and crushed rock with some segments using the public roadways. Shorter trails from the lodge and campground connect to the main trail around the lake shore.

Lake Activities
Lake Keomah has an unsupervised swimming beach. The beach is a great place for young and old alike on hot summer afternoons

Anglers can try their luck fishing for bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and channel catfish. Ice fishing is popular in the winter. Two boat ramps are located around the lake for convenient lake access. A section of the lake shoreline is designated for 24-hour fishing and a fishing pier is available on the west shoreline accessible to persons of varying abilities.
During the summer the open water, grasslands, deep woods and marshy areas provide habitat for all types of wildlife. Hikers along the park's scenic hiking and nature trails may catch a glimpse of bullfrogs blowing and puffing bass solos, a great blue heron wading in the shallows in search of minnows, or a covey of quail rising at the approach of human footsteps. In the fall, the lake is surrounded by a mass of color from a variety of trees and shrubs.

Facilities:

Picnicking/Shelters/Lodge
Lake Keomah's scenic beauty has long made it a very popular picnic spot. Open picnic shelters are available for reservations. The park lodge is a great venue for weddings, reunions, and birthday and retirement parties, and may be reserved.

Camping
The campground features both electric and non-electric campsites, modern showers and restrooms as well as a trailer dump station.

Group Camping
Lake Keomah has a dining hall/restroom building available to organized groups on a reservation basis. All group camp reservations are handled by the park office (641) 673-6975. Camping for group members is allowed nearby.

Nearby Attractions:

Oskaloosa is six miles west of the park and the site of beautiful William Penn College. Sigourney is twenty miles east. Pella is twenty-one miles northwest. Ottumwa is thirty-five miles southeast.

Season Schedule

• General Rules