Reviews of Ledges State Park (Park)

Jason Kramer

This is a beautiful place for a picnic or to camp. We come here almost every weekend. My 8 year old loves walking the creek trying to catch anything that moves. The hiking trail lead you to some awesome views. The camp grounds are clean and well kept. Plenty of free activities at this State Park.

Allyson Rocha

Such a beautiful State Park. It’s a little jaunt but totally worth the drive. Scenic beauty every which way you can look. Our family loves to visit this park, looking forward to returning and taking in the beauty of a fantastic family friendly park. It’s definitely a place you can go and clear your head from the mundane nuisances of a busy world and life. Love it!

Dave King

Great place to relax while walking the trailways. Running small river able to walk across barefooted. Great locations for Walking / Shelters for picnics. Should visit here.

Andrew Doss

Great scenery! Lots of hiking and walking paths to enjoy the outdoors. Also good to just drive around and enjoy the River valley scenery. Bring food for a picnic. There are several shelters throughout, and in-place grills too.

Adrian Mitchell

This is a great experience. The trails are really awesome. The landmarks and rocks are great for pictures and for exploring. The park seems well maintained. The water over the roads was higher then usual, which meant cars could not drive down the road. But that meant people were able to walk down and through the water without having to worry. Definitely recommend wearing flip flops or some form of water shoes. Some of the water ways over the road have sharp rocks.

Jerry Miller

Beautiful sandstone bluffs!

Chris Varnado

Everytime we come to this state park we absolutely enjoy our visit. Thanks for all the good times and memories past and to the future ones as well.

Michael Breske Jr.

Beautiful drive through the park with some hiking trails. Great for a few hours of adventures.

John Rumbaugh

We love waking through the water.

Joseph Greene

Great place to get into nature. Very scenic and not too busy.

renee pepper

We walked the creek all the way out to the river. Great family day!

Ruth House

Minus the flooring at lower ledges. Lost lake trail was fun. If you like stairs. Lol. That's what I wanted. Great cardio!

N

The ledges used to be one of my favorite places to go camping. Since the renovations, RV's are now allowed in the tent section... Or what was the tent section. Those sites are small enough as is and nobody wants to be stuck between 2 loud RV's running all night long. I'm very disappointed in the decisions this park has made. I was a Consistent tent camper there. I will not be camping there anymore! It's a zoo with all those damn RV's everywhere! If you still love to tent camp avoid this place!!!!! If I could give it negative stars I would have! Before the renovations it would have been 5 stars! They messed up big time.... All for more money!

Bristal Waldera

Ledges is such beautiful place with a rich history.....

mirela hadziomerovic

I love going there and sitting at the rock so peaceful and beautiful

Rochelle Woodard

Love the spill ways & hiking through all the trails.

Ayla Mamutoi

Beautiful place. Nice water ways to cool off in the summer. Lots of scenic trails

Loren Turner

Nice campground, scenic drive thru park.

Eric Waters

It's just a wonderful, beautiful park. Heavy first cover and fascinating geography. It's popular, so expect to see list of people. We took our dog, and he just loved it!

Marty Glynn

One of the locally best kept secrets of the great outdoors!

Curt Brooks

Beautiful area, highly recommended!

Kim Peterson

We did as much of the trails as we could! Love the cut rocks poking out of the earth here and there

Teddi Nielson

Ledges is gorgeous! There are so many different paths to take and you can spend the whole day hiking them. The trails are maintained beautifully and the park is kept clean. If it's a hot summer day, you can even go for a stroll in the creeks to cool off.

Dylan Mike White

Some of Iowas best trails. There are a lot of steps, some tricky to navigate, but are a lot of fun to explore. If you explore enough, you can find some cool rock formations and some unique water crossings.

Mike Groenendyk

Beautiful State park. Canyon drive is really cool. The park could use a little maintenance. DNR are very friendly and helpful.

Gary Knoll

Beautiful park. Great picnic spots

Sharon Gitzen

Had fun with the grandkids

Kay Whipple

Love the 5 waterways and sandstone (?) bluffs. Nice but busy.

Betty Anderson

We had a great time !! My grandkids love playing in the water and sand !!

Bhairav Ramanathan

Beautiful escape located conveniently close to Ames

Jaclyn Jay

Love going to the ledges! They are adding new walkways with concrete (not a fan, i prefer the traditional wood and stone pathways). Beautiful place to visit!!

Dustin Mimnaugh

Fantastic free park to take the family and have a picnic in a hot day. Usually fairly busy but definitely worth it. Plenty of maintained lawn area with shade to spread out a picnic blanket if the picnic tables are all taken. The route through the park is one way, be sure to watch out for children running through the water when you drive through the areas where water runs over the road.

Flint Lockwood

Love this park! Always great memories made!

Clark Melohn

All central Iowans should experience this park.

Jase Rohde

This is a wonderful park. It has some of the best hiking in the area and a fun creek for the kids to play in.

Deb King

This is a great state park, excellent facility for rural Iowa.

Anthony Smith

Ledge's is nice I like to drive through here. It's nice in the summer as long as the creek isn't flooded. There are some nice walking trails.

Amber Robles

Great trails, and creek to walk. Good for the whole family and dog friendly!

Cyclonekermit

Great place to hike. Kids can cool off in the creek.

Dana jackson

Nice state park would bring my kids there when they were little.

Willie Wellington

Always a nice place to get away and enjoy different scenery. Lots of other people out enjoying the park this day and all were kind and respectful of the park and others.

matt mullins

It's the best place around des Moines for camping hiking and picnic

Will Phillips

Beautiful park, amazing staff, wide range of trails and a nicely renovated campground with several full hookups for RVs.

Elisa Huss

My home away from home!

Richard DeArk

very beautiful park... lots of hiking, and wildflowers... Awesome place for a wedding.

Douglas Vaughan

Beautiful area for camping and hiking. The you site could use some TLC, but camping in the last weekend of September one can't expect perfectly groomed, lush green grass.

Vahid Ellig

It's great fun to walk through the water down the river. The bottom is mostly Sandy. It's also fun to drive through the parts of the river that cross the road. The signs are not that helpful, so definitely get a map.

Alina Waggoner

Been to Ledges State Park several times, but went on the Lost Lake trail for the first time today. It was beautiful! And very quiet. So peaceful. My husband pushed me in my wheelchair to within about 50 yards away from this view of the river, so it's quite accessible. But there are many other trails and spurs that are for real hikes and trail walks.

Michael Pitman

Sadly we arrived to late in the day to get one if the nicer picnic spaces. However, that is to be expected when you arrive after 2 p.m. on a holiday. Aside from that the experience was amazing, really cool sandstone cliffs all along the creek, beautiful views. I will most assuredly return many times in the future.

Bob Pertzborn

Great State Park. Fun to drive and walk through the creeks. Excellent hiking through the woods

Tara Nall

Beautiful state park!! Gorgeous!

Samantha Peterson

Great for beginner hikers or experienced gatherers. Campsites were well kept and respectfully clean. May get wet during the rainy season, but if you have done your research, you should already know that.

Brandon Pollard

Great park! It's a great place to hike and is beautiful. We got engaged and married at two different locations here. Our dog also loves it when we bring her here!

Daniel Betts

The river is rising some roads are shut off but there are still access points to all the trails into the Hills they've all been well cared for and there are new tell materials down on some of the major Trails so very enjoyable

Kris Fish Kuhlmann

Terrific camping, nice restroom facilities, helpful DNR folks, great location to Central Iowa camping

Samantha Ford-Aldrich

Absolutely love ledges! From walking the stream to the trails, picnic and scenery.

Antony Diener

I love this park! It's definitely worth the drive from DSM. Beautiful park with plenty of nice trails. Generally it's nice and clean and has nice shelters as well.

Gayne Morris

Fantastic place to bring the kids! Nothing better then nature!

-CHUNK- Lopagus

Beautiful place. I love the trails.

Janet Miller

Well maintained campground with very friendly and helpful camp host. Lots of trails to hike and beautiful scenery. Glad we came and will be back!

Willie Kinter

Great place to hike and camp.

devon king

Great place for the family to go for the day explore nature or play in the water. Good for events and family gathering. Great for dates or to just go by yourself to clear your head.

BREIGHTON Robison Engeman

It's a very scenic, well kept park with great hiking trails and camping. But can also get really crowded.

Jake Grace

There is a lot of standing water. I get that there's nothing that can be done about it (because nature) but it really ruined my hike because of all the bugs. We were wearing very strong bug spray and they didn't care

Tim Knoblauch

Could not find suitable access to the river. One way traffic a problem.

Christopher Axtell

Great hiking and perfect for the family

John Elliott

Visited Ledges during April and it was wet and chilly. The park filled up pretty much on weekends and the bathrooms showed the use, not only needing to be updated, but cleaned - both floors and fixtures. The roads are sharply curved and with the muddy ground, not good for people who can’t keep their rigs on the pavement. All in all it’s a beautiful State Park.

Aaron Lockhart

Well kept and the water crossing across the roads was unique and fun.

elizabeth musch

Nice park with good picnic area. Nick hiking would love to go back in the fall.

Jessica Carson

Great place to play and picnic with the family!

Easton Wade

Love this place there is so much to do and see I wish everyone could make our there

Daniel Johansen

Ledges is a beautiful place! We love hiking around and enjoying the natural beauty this park has to offer. The campsite is kept nice, but the spots are pretty close together. Early spring and late fall are great times to camp, the fees are reduced as are the number of other campers.

Nick Smart

The scenery and the hiking there is the best there is in Iowa.

Tony Edwards

Gorgeous location just make sure to bring bug spray if you plan on hitting any of the side trails.

Doug Hansen

We are enjoying the campground improvements made in 2018! Sites were graded and resurfaced, Lots of sewer and electrical hook-ups were added, plus a row of pull-through sites.

Melissa Reyerson

We come here often to hike throughout the year and always really enjoy the trails, river walking, and Hidden Lake. Great place to camp, go for a picnic, or for solitude. Beautiful prairie grasses as well with walking trails. Best hiking area near Des Moines.

Josh Dunn

Great hikes! Wanted to stay and do more! We'll definitely be back!

Ed Hendrickson

ILoved this park for over half a century. One of the coolest places in the Midwest. Bring your water shoes and walk down the River. Bring a picnic basket too. Feel like a hike? take a strenuous hike up and down the steep hills surrounding the river bottom.

John Meng-Frecker

Such a beautiful woodsy place with a full stream running through it. My wife remembers driving through the water at low points in the road but the road is closed now. Park at the top and walk down for a good cool splash on a hot July day.

Eshita Zaman

Lost Creek nature trail is very beautiful in late summer and fall!

Lesley Tubbs

The bathrooms are filthy. Camp host are lazy and don’t help at all. Need new camp Host Grass in my site up to my knees and asked to be cut they are busy Walked around it dirty Shower doors falling off Bugs because they don’t mow Looks like you pull up in a bunch of weeds and camped We came because son lives close will try another place

Jesse Barker

Beautiful place to hike or relax on a hot day

Becky ImagineNation

Good pull thru sites with full hookups. Not alot of grass for pets...some sites in the older part of the park are very narrow and don't allow manuevering of tow campers. Restrooms and showers were rough. Some showers weren't available...the park is still in updating mode. Campsites are wet, muddy and cramped.

Melissa Bridges

Great place for a family gathering, picnic or a little hike.

Youssef Jarachi

Great place for families with kids and dogs especially in hot weather.

Darla Ewalt

Fantastic trails for hiking and everyone enjoys playing in the creek and getting sprayed with water when the cars and trucks drive through the water. The faster the better.

Patsy Day

We thoroughly enjoyed camping at ledges State Park. We will be going back again and again

Raygun Sayre

If you live in Iowa and more specifically in Boone,Iowa check out Ledges. It's a wonderful place to hike or simply get your feet wet as the cars drive through the water.

Lynn Ripperger

When I was there, the streams through the park were a bit flooded, so the road my family wanted to go down was gated because the water was over the low water crossings. So we had to walk probably a mile and a half from the parking lot to the one stream. It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for that. It is a beautiful area, just check ahead if it's been raining recently.

Zach W

Amazing park for the small town its in

Eric Marcanio

Very nice trail, extremely well kept. Deer are usally near the trail!

Kevin A

One of those rare places in Central Iowa where the river landscape gains profile as the creeks flow down into a deep stretch of the Des Moines River valley. On weekdays or off season, it's also a place to get away from the bustle and enjoy the quiet. I'm so glad it exists.

Amanda Tallman

Kids have a great time wading in the water and catching minnows. Hiking trails are fun, but some are beginning to need repaired. Overall an awesome state park!!

Damon Carter

Beautiful park. Fantastic place for families with children.

Carolina Eckert

This place is HUGE! I have been coming here since I was a little girl and I STILL find a new and fun area to explore every time i visit. This place holds a special place in my fiancée and I's hearts. We actually intend on getting married here May 29th, 2020.

Dakoda D Sellers

Single most beautiful park in the state. Love this place.

jesus lozano

If you haven't floated down the river by ledges highly recommend it

Mina Baldini

So beautiful but the trails need more markers and explanation

Jason Jennings

Always enjoy a good motorcycle ride to and through Ledges.

Gabe Rizzio

Well maintained park, lots of trees and spots for fires/grillouts/ games.

Jessica Gribble

This is a decent enough state park. Contrary to the name, there is very little limestone/ledges. The views are only okay. Camping was pretty good if a little crowded together. Overall, the park is passable with okay hiking.

Clayton Moffitt

It was really fun and we realy enjoyed our stay, raccons will come at night but its fine

Angela R. Nemmers

Same regulations and reservation as Walnut Woods State Park. Reservation America -via online or by phone. Has non reeservable campsites for which you risk coming only for finding these sites are all rented. Best to phone Park Ranger through Iowa DNR or simply go online and find answers for your questions. Lovely area with much natural Iowa for enjoyment.

Eric !

It’s small but much better than I expected

John Warburton

A great park to walk around and splash in the stream with the kids.

Jennifer Greenlee

Letting the dog swim in the river was great!

N/ A

It's a good place but a few stones on the paths are loose and a path or two may be inaccessible if it's rained recently

Jess W.

Pure bliss. That is all I can say.

Justin Milner

Love going to Ledges and end up here multiple times each year. Lots of paths, good parking, and relatively easy trails make it a lot of fun for all ages.

Phil Cacek

Mid Summer Creek Walk -- always a good time.

RupTurE

Great hiking trails with lots of elevation changes. Places for picnics, playing in the water. Great place to take your family or special someone.

Felicia Miller

My favorite spot in Iowa to do photos! ❤

Mariah Phillips

Friendly full-time staff and campground hosts, renovated campground with reservable and first-come, first-serve options and gorgeous hiking trails. Highly recommend!

Steve Elliott

Nice park to walk trails and explore. It is a very popular park and can be very busy during nice weather. The park is a mixture of woods, sandstone cliffs and bluffs with a stream that kid love to play on. Also the lower park is bordered by the Desmoines River and is often closed due to flooding.

Matthew Doyle

A great park that is well taken care of. Many routes to choose to go hiking that offer a wide variety of views.

Shawnee Garcia

Great hiking and family time.

Mary Swalla Holmes

Fantastic free family fun!

Matt Jergens

Beautiful scenery. We took our family photo there

Jamie Butenhoff

Love the lower ledges road! Nice streams to walk down and it's fun driving through them!

Trae Blessing

Beautiful park and lots to see. Can swim in the stream. Great views. Frequently flooded.

Chris Steiner

Nice well-maintained trails. unfortunately, a lot of it was closed due to high water when we went but of what we could go to it seemed like a very nice park. There's nice maps and information boards everywhere about the animals and plants. Nice place to wear the kids out!

Ann GREEN

Love it great place to take the family

Heather Hasty

We always love ledges. The DNR is hosting a series of events this weekend for the Boone River Valley Festival, we did the wild hike with 3 kids and we all loved it. Looking forward to geocaching this afternoon! The DNR guy was super great with my kids, answered all their questions and politely listened to the ramblings of a 9 yr old obsessed with Pokemon.

Emily Saumer

I loved these campgrounds. We chose to stay here due to the location because it was perfect for pulling off of the road for a night and camping out. We stayed at a non-electric site because it was cheap and easy since we didn't need the electricity anyways. On our stay we decided to investigate and walk around on the trails. We found that there are more private, walk-in sites that we will make sure to go to again sometime! Only downfalls would be that there isn't a good beach and that there were a ton of mosquitos, but you can't control nature. Best part were all of the fireflies lighting up our evening hike!

Clifton Spengler

It a nice place to walk and visit.

Brian Bopp

Beautiful settings for hiking, picnics, and camping along the Des Moines River. Special thanks to the Park Ranger who helped me find my way.

Elynn Joy

Great place to relax n enjoy the scenery!!

Cody Turk

Views are great, plenty of hiking, cool off in the rivers. The restrooms on the other hand are some of the worst in the state for state parks.

Darrell Honrine

As of today, still flooded. Not surprisingly, as the dsm is way up. Still though, very well maintained trails and lots of friendly faces out and about. We were able to get a couple of miles in and only had to turn around on a trail that we were pretty much expecting to turn around on.

Justen Rice

Beautiful place to hike. Grilling and picnicking areas available. Will be back.

Sanjin Mrkajic

Love the Ledges. We come here a few times a year. My dog loves this hike. Not off leash but you can push that rule. I recommend going toward the end of Fall when all the leaves have fallen.

Marc Isaac

Such a cool state park! Loved the rivers and huge cliffs!

Vanessa Grubbs

We had a blast exploring another state park in our state. We will be back again. Next time we will remember water shoes, and a camera

JUST TRY IT! DIY

Great place to camp. This last year thay have added full hookup sites. They are still working on the lower area after all the flooding messed it all up, still a beautiful place

toni hammond

Fun, lots of hiking areas

Robert Atzeni

I got lost here as a kid . weather is starting to take its toll plus I think state funding is getting tight . Maybe a entrance fee or donation box would help. Moving forward it still has its appeal and hiding qualities . A bit buggy and on a muggy day getting close to the spillway didn't help. Ledges State Park please don't go away and hopefully no more flooding its really taking a toll on lowa

Rachel Harms

Wonderful camping sites and a very well kept park

Nicky Lian

very nice park to visit and clean park and lot of places to explore. Imma definitely go there again.

Joel Kruse

First time here. It is beautiful here! If I had more time I would have stayed longer. Lots of places to explore.

jason liska

Great place to take your family, picnic, camping or just driving through.

Gibson Blankenship

Mother nature prevented us from accessing some neat parts, but still very nice.

Paul Meola

Scenic areas with pull offs where you can enjoy the water. Overnight camping available.

Renee Gleason

Good size sites. Many with electric now.

Juanita Zavala

I visited in the winter and loved the fresh air and scenery of course. Great place to walk the trails or go for a run and explore. Many people have asked where the cliff is located and as you enter the park look at the signs that ill direct you to Lost Lake Trail. Once you park, follow the trail and stay on your right. As soon as you pass the bridge (in the pic) take the first right and you will see it. Enjoy!

Mike Christian

One of the most beautiful places in Iowa; probably because it doesnt look like it should be in Iowa!

Jennifer Lohner

An Iowan favorite!! Fun time with the Grandson, no phones or electronics devices. Just nature and good company!

Greg Diener

Big disappointment. Wish the state would fix it up. Used to be a really nice place to visit.

Kayleigh Horrell

Love Ledges! It's a beautiful park and Andy the Park Ranger is super helpful! We got married at the Carl Fritz Henning Stone shelter down by the river 2 years ago, and recently went back to the Park to hike the trails. We had a great time, but a word of caution on the trails. Canyon road is easy hiking, but the stairs on the hiking trails got kinda dicey. There are lots of stairs, and they are at a steep incline. Pretty difficult to get up and kinda scary to go back down. They are mostly just railroad ties and stacked stones that are placed as stairs (some of which were even a little loose). Definitely want to take your time and be careful on these. I saw lots of dogs and small kids, and I would not recommend taking them on the back hiking trails. Stick to the canyon road if you're bringing dogs and kids. I would rank the back trails a high intermediate (not that I'm a die hard hiker, but I'm in my 20s and in good health). They could use some added improvement to the stairs and handrails for additional safety. And better signage. There were lots of forks in the trail without much direction as to where they lead. It's a beautiful park with beautiful views and great towering ledges though!

David Thorpe

Love the ledges.....would give 5 stars but I haven't been to alot of places to compare it too.

Ted A

Nice sites. No Water at site. Clean baths. The river is a long hike but worth the swim. all need supervision. There is a current.

leiana Nikolish

Love Leges so much! And so does my puppy! We have a great time anytime we go, and it's always sure to wear her little butt out.

Joni Birchfield

BEST.PARK.EVER. Fun for the whole family!!

Sam Parsons

Fantastic spot. Really fun river walking and exploring the river.

J R

So much fun walking through the creek. Not well marked when you first get into park. Beautiful area

Dawn Margetta

We always love coming here. There are some good camping spots and great places to hike.

Jeremy Prange

Nice park with family friendly hikes

P Princess

Here are many trails for hiking, clear creek and enough picnic areas, but no nice views here.

Kate Challis

We always love this place. Families should expect a very steep walk down a hill into the fun part of the park. Bring towels, swimsuits to wade in the water. It's been a few years since the water was low enough to drive there. Supposedly there are leeches in the water. It is really fun for kids, but you will have to walk uphill to get back to your car. It's shady and very pleasant.