Big Creek State Park

Big Creek State Park is a 708-acre park in Polk County, in Polk City.

The park supports golf, disc golf, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and boating. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and boat or kayak rentals.

Hike or bike along the paved, 27-mile Neil Smith Trail, which leads from the beach through the Saylorville Lake area, all the way to Des Moines. In the winter, cross country ski on a 3.5 mile trail on the disk golf course.

Hike or bike along the paved, 27-mile Neil Smith Trail, which leads from the beach through the Saylorville Lake area, all the way to Des Moines. In the winter, cross country ski on a 3.5 mile trail on the disk golf course. Swim in Big Creek’s lake and soak up the sun on the beach during hot summer months. Boating is also a popular lake activity, with kayaks, paddle boards and pontoon boats available to rent at the beach concessionaire. Please contact the concessionaire at 515-984-6083 or bigcreekmarina.com for more information.

Swim in Big Creek’s lake and soak up the sun on the beach during hot summer months. Boating is also a popular lake activity, with kayaks, paddle boards and pontoon boats available to rent at the beach concessionaire. Please contact the concessionaire at 515-984-6083 or bigcreekmarina.com for more information. Fish among the coves on Big Creek Lake, a hotspot for crappie, walleye and bluegill. Big Creek has five boat ramps, several fishing jetties, an accessible fishing pier and miles of shoreline.

Fish among the coves on Big Creek Lake, a hotspot for crappie, walleye and bluegill. Big Creek has five boat ramps, several fishing jetties, an accessible fishing pier and miles of shoreline.

A state fishing license is usually required.

Outdoor conditions can change quickly or be unique to a park. If you have specific accessibility questions or concerns, please contact the park directly and staff will be happy to help. Bathrooms: Accessible modern restrooms can be found at the beach, east boat ramp and west boat ramp. Accessible vault toilets are located at the beach boat ramp, fishing pier, disc golf course and Williams Drive boat ramp. Accessibility at Major Park Attractions: Beach Area: Accessible pathways around the beach connect modern restrooms and shelters. Cabanas have accessible routes but are not considered accessible due to their small size. The concession/marina building is accessible; contact the marina prior to renting a boat to make sure the docks will meet your needs. Track Chair: A motorized all-terrain chair can be checked out for free on a first-come, first-served basis at the marina and used anywhere in the park including on the sand beach, trails, and by anglers to access shoreline or fishing jetties. Contact Big Creek Marina at 515-984-6083 with questions. Neal Smith Trail: This paved, multi-use trail winds around the east shore of the lake between the beach and dam. The trail in this section is 3 miles long, 8 feet wide and relatively flat, with steeper sections near the Firefly Shelter and between the Beverly Dinghy and Cadet Shelters. Accessible parking access can be found at the beach, fishing pier, and parking lot near the Hugg Drive park entrance. Additional Accessible Features: • Fishing: An accessible pier and 200 feet of paved shoreline access are located on the east side of the lake off NW Big Creek Drive. The fishing pier has accessible parking and a vault toilet. An accessible fish cleaning station is located at the West Boat Ramp. • Boating: The beach boat ramp is accessible. Parking for vehicles and trailers is located near the beach boat ramp, with accessible routes to the dock, and an accessible vault toilet near the ramp.