Badger Creek State Recreation Area is a popular fishing destination, with a large lake. There are no designated trails but there is wooded space to explore as well. Every year in mid-July, there is a large sunflower field that is popular for taking pictures (details below for the 2017 field location).
Information:
Name: Badger Creek State Recreation Area
Address: G14 and Badger Creek Road Van Meter, Iowa – this is the closest GPS intersection I could find, the entrance to the park is north of here (picture below).
Type: Places to visit
Bathrooms: Yes, non-flush
Shade: No
Playground: No
Trails: No
Water: Yes, lake
Other notes: Boating and fishing. Stunning sunflower field in mid-summer, pelican flock in late spring.
Official Website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks-Rec-Areas/Iowas-State-Parks/ParkDetails/ParkID/1
DSMOF Blog posts:
Other things nearby of note:
If you’re looking for other places to get outside, check back-in with the interactive map!
Pictures:
Yellow box is where you park for the main entrance!
I thought this trail would lead to something more, but it died out quickly.
[Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR]
To find the Badger Creek Recreation Area sunflower field, see the photo below for what to type in; you’ll see the sunflowers to your left as you drive in, we parked by the road and followed someone else’s foot path into the field. It is/was in bloom in mid-July.
Have you been here? Leave a comment and let people know what you think!
I am curious if there is a sun flower field this year? I had heard that they planted corn instead of sunflowers?
So do yall still have the sunflowers up?
There no longer is shaded shelters.
Thank you for letting us know! We will edit.
Has there been a fish kill in the lake in the last year? Seems to be less fish bitting and saw dead fish last year