Pilot Knob State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(641) 581-4835
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Pilot Knob State Park: Road OpenRoad Open: The through road at Pilot Knob State Park is open for the 2026 recreational season. (Posted April 10th, 2026)
Posted by the park 2026-04-10. Official alert
Overview
In Winnebago County, about 13 miles northwest of Clear Lake, Pilot Knob State Park covers about 240 acres.
Visitors come for horseback riding and hiking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites with full hookups, group camping, and showers.
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 Camp at the park’s campground, containing electric hookups, modern showers and restrooms and a trailer dump station. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Pilot Knob State Park. The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required. | — | Electric campsites; Full hook-up campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Camp at the park’s campground, containing electric hookups, modern showers and restrooms and a trailer dump station. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Pilot Knob State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingHorseback ridingCamping
Trails
Hike a variety of trails at Pilot Knob, including five miles for equestrians. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular trail activities in the winter, and a warming house with heat and electricity is reservable for visitors in the winter.
Fishing
Fish on Pilot Knob’s 15-acre lake, containing bass, catfish and bluegill. Ice fishing is a popular activity in the winter.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Amphitheater
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Group camping
Recreation
- 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
- 2148 340th Street
Forest City, IA 50436 - Nearest town
- Clear Lake — about 13 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.2555, -93.5671
- Phone
- (641) 581-4835
- Pilot_Knob@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
- Wikidata
- 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