Family Camping Activities for All Ages: Games, Hiking, and Campfire Fun
Explore family camping activities that bring all ages together, from outdoor games and scenic hikes to memorable campfire fun that creates lasting memories.
Walnut Woods State Park is a hidden gem nestled in West Des Moines, Iowa, offering a serene retreat for nature lovers and families seeking adventure. Known for its diverse amenities, the park provides a perfect blend of outdoor activities and relaxation, making it a popular choice for visitors year-round.
The park features picturesque trails ideal for hiking and biking, allowing guests to explore the natural beauty of the area. Birdwatchers will appreciate the variety of avian species that call this park home, adding to its charm as an eco-friendly destination. Families can enjoy the playground and picnic areas, while those with watercraft can make use of the launch ramp.
Walnut Woods State Park also boasts a campground complete with essential facilities like a dump station. While there are no showers available on-site, the park provides ample space for tents and RVs, ensuring that even larger rigs have plenty of room to park comfortably. The nearby pedestrian bridge over the Raccoon River, currently under construction, promises to expand hiking and biking options in the future.
Day use access is free, though donations are encouraged to support the park's maintenance and improvements. Visitors can enjoy large parking areas suitable for any vehicle size, including RVs. The park also offers good mobile connectivity with Verizon 4G LTE roaming, making it easy to stay connected during your visit.
Whether you're looking for a peaceful day outdoors or an overnight camping experience, Walnut Woods State Park offers something for everyone. Come and discover the beauty of Iowa's natural landscape at this beloved family-friendly destination.
Picnics
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Hiking
Barbecue grill
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Slides
Swings
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Playground
Dogs allowed
Awesome smaller family friendly state park property. Bird watching, hiking, biking, picnic areas and launch ramp and playground are a few of the park features. Nice campground with dump station, didn't see any showers however. A new pedestrian bridge over the river connecting Raccoon Park is almost finished which will expand the hiking and biking options. Day use access is fee free but donations are recommended. Good parking large enough for any size rig or RV. I had 3 bars of Verizon 4G LTE Roaming.
Great veiws of water, trees, and trails. Great Bird spotting places.
This campground has some beautiful trees. The camping spots are nice and level. It was quiet last night
Booked for my wedding ceremony and reception for about 50 people. Perfect size. Two bathrooms inside, a kitchen equipped with microwave, fridge w/ freezer, oven, and sink! 70 wood chairs. Three 6ft buffet tables in the cleaning closet. Amplified sound is not allowed in state parks so no live bands or DJs, heads up. Air conditioned. Just overall affordable and comfortable
I'm glad they've gotten rid of walk ups. People used to stay for months, switching spots with one another, tying up the spots, so that you couldn't even reserve online. Great, level pads. Some full hookups. The only problem was that our water pressure was poor. Great stay otherwise!