Polk County

Camping

Rules

CAMPING:

• Instant Pay sites are not allowed to be reserved ahead of time; you must be at the site during time of reservation. Once arriving, site must be registered online within 1 hour.
• No holding a campsite. A screen tent is not a designated camping unit.  
• Camping under the stars is not allowed. A camping unit (tent, RV, pop up, etc.) is required.
• Must be 18 years old to register a site.
• Per Section 13 E. “Camping unit or camp”: a tent, trailer or motor vehicle specifically designed for such use as a temporary residence at a camp area. You are able to have two tents or a camper (trailer, RV, etc.) with an additional tent or a tent on the same site, however two trailers are not permitted.  
• No tents or campers are allowed to be set up after 10 pm.

SHELTER:

• Vehicles must be parked in parking lot; no vehicles allowed in or near shelter buildings.
• Keg beer allowed only with deposit and advance notification to park ranger.
• Reserved shelters are for entire day reserved. 

PARK HOURS:

• Summer hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
• Winter hours: sunrise to sunset 

GATE CLOSURES:

• Registered campers may re-enter the park after hours. Site number and name of registered party is required after hours. 

PETS:

• Pets must be on leash and not left alone at site. 
• A leash no longer than 6 foot long is required.

Polk County Conservation website

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Do my visitors need to leave the park at 10:30 p.m. even if they are visiting us at our campsite?

Section 12 of our Park Rules and Regulations states that all visitors are required to leave the park prior to closing time, which is 10:30 p.m. during the summer hours and by sunset during off season.

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We don't have a tent; can we sleep under the stars if we register a campsite?

Unfortunately, per our Park Rules and Regulations, you need to have a designated "Camping unit" in order to camp in a county park. A "camping unit" is a tent, trailer, or motor vehicle specifically designated for such use as a temporary residence at a camp area. Section 13 (E).

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Do you lock the park gates at 10:30 pm?

At parks with campgrounds we do not lock the gates. Areas without campgrounds are locked after hours. If you return to the park after hours, you may be stopped by the ranger, in which case let them know you are returning to your camp site. You will be asked to provide the name on the reservation and campsite number.

Summer park hours are 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. Winter hours are sunrise to sunset.

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How do we contact a ranger?

In an emergency, dial 911. 
Many questions can be answered by our Administration office staff Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To contact our office, please call (515) 323-5300 option 1 or e-mail pccb_info@polkcountyiowa.gov. If you need a park ranger during off-hours, please contact the area's Park Ranger. 

Brown’s Woods, Easter Lake Park, Fort Des Moines Park, and Lauridsen Skatepark (515) 249-1543 

Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt (515) 249-0702
Jester Park (515) 249-3229 

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park (515) 218-4235
Thomas Mitchell Park or Mally's Weh Weh Neh Kee Park (515) 249-1753 
Yellow Banks Park (515) 250-1031

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General Questions

When does the Easter Lake beach open?

Beach is open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day weekend. Beach hours are:

Weekdays 12:00PM-8:00PM

Weekends 10:00AM-8:00PM

 

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How do we contact a ranger?

In an emergency, dial 911. 
Many questions can be answered by our Administration office staff Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To contact our office, please call (515) 323-5300 option 1 or e-mail pccb_info@polkcountyiowa.gov. If you need a park ranger during off-hours, please contact the area's Park Ranger. 

Brown’s Woods, Easter Lake Park, Fort Des Moines Park, and Lauridsen Skatepark (515) 249-1543 

Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt (515) 249-0702
Jester Park (515) 249-3229 

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park (515) 218-4235
Thomas Mitchell Park or Mally's Weh Weh Neh Kee Park (515) 249-1753 
Yellow Banks Park (515) 250-1031

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Where can I learn more about working for Polk County Conservation?

Our job opportunities can be found online here, or you may contact our main office at (515)323-5300 and our staff can provide you with information.

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Rules

Can I ride my ATV in Polk County Parks? Where can I find the park rules and regulations?

Section 20: The use of ATV's or similar vehicles is prohibited in county parks, this includes trails as well. Click here for further information: Rules and Regulations. Information on where to ride in Iowa can be found here.

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