Pine Lake State Park

About this park

Pine Lake State Park, dedicated in 1926, holds the distinction of being Iowa's first state park, a milestone the park celebrated with its centennial in 2026. Built around Upper and Lower Pine Lake along the Iowa River near Eldora, the park takes its name from a rare stand of white pines, a species more commonly associated with forests farther north or east. Four stone-and-timber cabins built by the CCC and WPA during the 1930s and '40s remain in use, representing some of the oldest surviving public works structures in the entire Iowa state park system. The two connected lakes support fishing, boating, and swimming, while the surrounding bluffs and river bottomland offer more than 10 miles of hiking trails. As one of the most historically significant parks in Iowa, Pine Lake blends its status as a foundational site in the state's conservation history with straightforward recreational appeal: camping, fishing, boating, and trail access all draw steady visitation from central Iowa communities.