Lake of Three Fires State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins, lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(712) 523-2700
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Lake of Three Fires State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: The restrooms at Lake of Three Fires have been closed for the season. A pit vault toilet remains open near the CCC shelter.
Posted by the park 2026-10-20. Official alert
Overview
In Taylor County, about 4 miles northeast of Bedford, Lake of Three Fires State Park covers about 1,092 acres.
Things to do include horseback riding, golf, disc golf, hunting in season, and swimming. Its trail network totals roughly 10 miles, according to the park. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with electric hookups, group camping, and showers). There are also cabins and lodge rooms for rent.
Pets
Privately owned animals must be on a leash of max six feet or confined; pets may not be left unattended in campgrounds; most cabins/yurts are pet-free.
Statewide rule from Iowa's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Iowa State Parks reservation system (ReserveAmerica)
- Phone
- 1-877-427-2757
The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Stay overnight in one of six studio cabins or at the two modern campgrounds. Cabins offer heating and air conditioning, a microwave, refrigerator and cook-top stove; visitors must provide their own bedding, towels and cooking supplies. Both campgrounds contain restrooms, showers and a trailer dump station. An equestrian campground has non-electric and electric sites, restrooms, corrals, hitching posts and holding pens. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Lake of Three Fires State Park. The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is… | — | Electric campsites; Equestrian, electric campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Stay overnight in one of six studio cabins or at the two modern campgrounds. Cabins offer heating and air conditioning, a microwave, refrigerator and cook-top stove; visitors must provide their own bedding, towels and cooking supplies. Both campgrounds contain restrooms, showers and a trailer dump station. An equestrian campground has non-electric and electric sites, restrooms, corrals, hitching posts and holding pens. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Lake of Three Fires State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Family studio cabins
Boat or Fish at Lake of Three Fires, or swim at the sandy beach area. Boats may be operated at “no-wake” speeds and two boat ramps provide convenient access to the water. Fishing jetties provide shoreline access, and anglers can fish for a variety of species including bluegill and bullhead. Horseshoe pitching areas are located at the beach near the lodge.
Reserve one of two open shelters for an outdoor gathering during your visit. One of the shelters contains electricity and water, and a renovated day-use lodge near the beach can be reserved for large gatherings. Both shelters and the day-use lodge can be reserved through the online reservation system for Lake of Three Fires State Park.
Things to do
HuntingHorseback ridingGolfDisc golfHikingSwimmingBoatingFishingCamping
Trails
Hike more than 10 miles of multi-use trails, winding around the lake, through wetlands and prairie. Wildlife is often spotted on the trails, which is a combination of grass, rock and dirt surfaces. Horseback riding and snowmobiling are also popular activities for exploring the park’s trails.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Group camping
Lodging
- Cabins
- Lodge or inn rooms
Recreation
- Golf course
- Disc golf
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 2303 Lake Road
Bedford, IA 50833 - Nearest town
- Bedford — about 4 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.7138, -94.6839
- Phone
- (712) 523-2700
- Three_Fires@dnr.iowa.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Iowa State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Iowa DNR 'All Parks' directory (Drupal view, ?page=0..3) — state parks, recreation areas, a state preserve and state forests
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology