Elinor Bedell State Park

Elinor Bedell State Park
Iowa State Park
Country  United States
State  Iowa
County Dickinson
Location Spirit Lake
 - elevation 1,408 ft (429 m)
 - coordinates 43°24′44″N 95°4′14″W / 43.41222°N 95.07056°WCoordinates: 43°24′44″N 95°4′14″W / 43.41222°N 95.07056°W
Area 80 acres (32.4 ha)
Founded 1998
Management Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Location of Elinor Bedell State Park in Iowa

Elinor Bedell State Park is a state park of Iowa, US. It is located on the east shore of East Okoboji Lake and represents one of the last remaining open spaces on the Iowa Great Lakes. The 80-acre (32 ha) park was a gift of former U.S. Congressman Berkley Bedell and his wife Elinor.[1]

Geography

The park preserves prairie, wetland, and oak savannah. Nearby towns include Spirit Lake about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the park, and Okoboji and Arnolds Park about 5 miles (8.0 km) around the lake to the southwest.[1]

Facilities

A small campground has eight sites with full RV hookups, a youth group site, a playground, modern restroom and a holding tank dump station. A shelter overlooking the lake can be rented for private events.[1] There is no beach or boat ramp within the park but several are accessible at other public facilities around the Iowa Great Lakes.[2]

Recreation

Elinor Bedell State Park has several miles of trails. A wildlife viewing blind is situated just off the trail for use by bird and wildlife watchers.[2] The area's lakes support game fish such as walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white bass, perch, bluegills, crappies, catfish, and bullheads.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Elinor Bedell State Park". Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Elinor Bedell State Park". Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 28, 2011.

External links