Lake Macbride State Park

About this park

Lake Macbride State Park is centered on the 900-acre Lake Macbride, one of the largest bodies of water in Iowa's state park system and a major recreational draw for the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area. The lake was created in the 1930s by damming Mill Creek, and its size makes it a popular destination for boating alongside more typical park activities. Fishing is a major draw here: the lake holds muskellunge, walleye, spotted bass, and other species, and Lake Macbride is one of relatively few Iowa lakes stocked with muskie, drawing anglers specifically in pursuit of that fish. A marina and multiple boat ramps support both fishing and general recreational boating. Beyond the water, the park offers roughly seven miles of multi-use trails through wooded hills above the lakeshore, along with camping, picnicking, and a beach. Its location just north of Iowa City makes it one of the more accessible large-lake parks in eastern Iowa, popular with both campers and day visitors from the university community nearby.